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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1.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 141, K⁺ 4.0, Cl⁻ 109 and HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 141 mmol/LK⁺ 4.0 mmol/LCl⁻ 109 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 103 mmHg (13.7 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 30%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 103 mmHg (13.7 kPa)FiO₂ 30%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.55PaCO₂mmHg354548HCO₃⁻mmol/L222641uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.55, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 41 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.55PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 41 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows PaCO₂ 57 mmHg (7.6 kPa). Use the rule that in acute respiratory acidosis HCO₃⁻ rises by 1 mmol/L for every 10 mmHg that PaCO₂ is above 40, starting from HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L, to find the expected HCO₃⁻.

PaCO₂ 57 mmHg (7.6 kPa)baseline: 40 mmHg, 24 mmol/L
HCO₃⁻ = mmol/L
5.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 44 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 44 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
6.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 137, Cl⁻ 86 and HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 137 mmol/LCl⁻ 86 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
delta ratio =

Answer key

  1. 1. AG = 13 mmol/L
  2. 2. P/F = 343.3 mmHg
  3. 3. partially compensated
  4. 4. HCO₃⁻ = 25.7 mmol/L
  5. 5. PaCO₂ = 51.8 mmHg
  6. 6. delta ratio = 3.143

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