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.

New worksheetPractise online with hints

For teachers: free to print, copy and use in class. Every new worksheet has new values and its own answer key. A link to ExamProblems on your course page is appreciated.

Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
pH7.357.457.21PaCO₂mmHg354562HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.21, PaCO₂ 62 mmHg (8.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.21PaCO₂ 62 mmHg (8.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.26PaCO₂mmHg354555HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 55 mmHg (7.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.26PaCO₂ 55 mmHg (7.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 8 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 8 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.16PaCO₂mmHg354569HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.16, PaCO₂ 69 mmHg (9.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.16PaCO₂ 69 mmHg (9.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 38 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
6.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 20 mmHg
  4. 4. uncompensated
  5. 5. PaCO₂ = 47.6 mmHg
  6. 6. PaCO₂ = 46.2 mmHg

Full step-by-step solutions: practise this topic on examproblems.com.