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
pH7.357.457.25PaCO₂mmHg354538HCO₃⁻mmol/L222616respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.25, PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.25PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.30PaCO₂mmHg354563HCO₃⁻mmol/L222630respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.30, PaCO₂ 63 mmHg (8.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.30PaCO₂ 63 mmHg (8.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 30 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.38PaCO₂mmHg354521HCO₃⁻mmol/L222612uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.38, PaCO₂ 21 mmHg (2.8 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.38PaCO₂ 21 mmHg (2.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.20PaCO₂mmHg354563HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 63 mmHg (8.4 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. The primary disorder is respiratory acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.20PaCO₂ 63 mmHg (8.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.06PaCO₂mmHg354533HCO₃⁻mmol/L22269appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.06, PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.06PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

A practice gas shows a metabolic alkalosis with HCO₃⁻ 45 mmol/L. Use expected PaCO₂ = 0.7·HCO₃⁻ + 21 to find the expected PaCO₂.

HCO₃⁻ 45 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. uncompensated
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. PaCO₂ = 52.5 mmHg

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