Arterial blood gas interpretation worksheet with answers

Free printable Arterial blood gas interpretation worksheet: 6 problems from easy to exam level, with an answer key. Print it or save it as a PDF.

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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354565HCO₃⁻mmol/L222632respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 65 mmHg (8.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 32 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 65 mmHg (8.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 32 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 138, K⁺ 4.8, Cl⁻ 105 and HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 138 mmol/LK⁺ 4.8 mmol/LCl⁻ 105 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 151 mmol/L, glucose 9.3 mmol/L and urea 13 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 151 mmol/Lglucose 9.3 mmol/Lurea 13 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.33PaCO₂mmHg354577HCO₃⁻mmol/L222639uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.33, PaCO₂ 77 mmHg (10.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.33PaCO₂ 77 mmHg (10.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.20PaCO₂mmHg354571HCO₃⁻mmol/L222627acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 71 mmHg (9.5 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 27 mmol/L. Use the rules ‘HCO₃⁻ rises 1 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (acute) or 3.5 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (chronic)’ to classify it. Click your answer.

pH 7.20PaCO₂ 71 mmHg (9.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 27 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354573HCO₃⁻mmol/L222636acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L. Use the rules ‘HCO₃⁻ rises 1 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (acute) or 3.5 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (chronic)’ to classify it. Click your answer.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. AG = 14 mmol/L
  3. 3. Osm = 324 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. partially compensated
  5. 5. acute
  6. 6. chronic

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