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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Name: ____________________   Date: ____________

1.Easy
pH7.357.457.59PaCO₂mmHg354540HCO₃⁻mmol/L222637respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.59, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 37 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.59PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 37 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 74 mmHg (9.9 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 28%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 74 mmHg (9.9 kPa)FiO₂ 28%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.19PaCO₂mmHg354519HCO₃⁻mmol/L22267uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.19, PaCO₂ 19 mmHg (2.5 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 7 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.19PaCO₂ 19 mmHg (2.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 7 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 141 mmol/L, glucose 17.2 mmol/L and urea 10.7 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 141 mmol/Lglucose 17.2 mmol/Lurea 10.7 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 39 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354568HCO₃⁻mmol/L222634acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 68 mmHg (9.1 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 34 mmol/L. Use the rules ‘HCO₃⁻ rises 1 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (acute) or 3.5 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (chronic)’ to classify it. Click your answer.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 68 mmHg (9.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 34 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. P/F = 264.3 mmHg
  3. 3. partially compensated
  4. 4. Osm = 310 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. PaCO₂ = 48.3 mmHg
  6. 6. chronic

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