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

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 68 mmHg (9.1 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 28%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 68 mmHg (9.1 kPa)FiO₂ 28%
P/F = mmHg
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.18PaCO₂mmHg354566HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.18, PaCO₂ 66 mmHg (8.8 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.18PaCO₂ 66 mmHg (8.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 131 mmol/L, glucose 12.9 mmol/L and urea 23.1 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 131 mmol/Lglucose 12.9 mmol/Lurea 23.1 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.23PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222617appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.23, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.23PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.20PaCO₂mmHg354540HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.20PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. P/F = 242.9 mmHg
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. Osm = 298 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 29 mmHg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. added respiratory acidosis

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