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
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354580HCO₃⁻mmol/L222640respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 40 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 40 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 100 mmHg (13.3 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 21%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 100 mmHg (13.3 kPa)FiO₂ 21%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.27PaCO₂mmHg354525HCO₃⁻mmol/L222611appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.27, PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.27PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 142, Cl⁻ 89 and HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L. Calculate the delta ratio (AG − 12)/(24 − HCO₃⁻), using AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻). Give two decimals.

Na⁺ 142 mmol/LCl⁻ 89 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L
delta ratio =

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. P/F = 476.2 mmHg
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 17 mmHg
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 23 mmHg
  5. 5. appropriate compensation
  6. 6. delta ratio = 2.545

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