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 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 21%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa)FiO₂ 21%
P/F = mmHg
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 136, K⁺ 5.1, Cl⁻ 108 and HCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 136 mmol/LK⁺ 5.1 mmol/LCl⁻ 108 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 20 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.43PaCO₂mmHg354525HCO₃⁻mmol/L222616uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.43, PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.43PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 137 mmol/L, glucose 16.8 mmol/L and urea 18.2 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 137 mmol/Lglucose 16.8 mmol/Lurea 18.2 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.14PaCO₂mmHg354543HCO₃⁻mmol/L222614appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.14, PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.14PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 140, Cl⁻ 114, HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L and albumin 34 g/L. Find the albumin-corrected anion gap AGc = AG + 0.25·(40 − albumin).

Na⁺ 140 mmol/LCl⁻ 114 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/Lalbumin 34 g/L
AGc = mmol/L

Answer key

  1. 1. P/F = 381 mmHg
  2. 2. AG = 8 mmol/L
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. Osm = 309 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. AGc = 9.5 mmol/L

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