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 104 mmHg (13.9 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 28%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 104 mmHg (13.9 kPa)FiO₂ 28%
P/F = mmHg
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.14PaCO₂mmHg354573HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.14, PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.14PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.27PaCO₂mmHg354541HCO₃⁻mmol/L222618uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.27, PaCO₂ 41 mmHg (5.5 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.27PaCO₂ 41 mmHg (5.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows PaCO₂ 64 mmHg (8.5 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 64 mmHg (8.5 kPa)baseline: 40 mmHg, 24 mmol/L
HCO₃⁻ = mmol/L
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.08PaCO₂mmHg354535HCO₃⁻mmol/L222610appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.08, PaCO₂ 35 mmHg (4.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.08PaCO₂ 35 mmHg (4.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 21% oxygen shows PaO₂ 66 mmHg (8.8 kPa) and PaCO₂ 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 21%PaO₂ 66 mmHg (8.8 kPa)PaCO₂ 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. P/F = 371.4 mmHg
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. HCO₃⁻ = 26.4 mmol/L
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. A–a gradient = 26.23 mmHg

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