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
pH7.357.457.50PaCO₂mmHg354520HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 20 mmHg (2.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.50PaCO₂ 20 mmHg (2.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 93 mmHg (12.4 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 24%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 93 mmHg (12.4 kPa)FiO₂ 24%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.57PaCO₂mmHg354541HCO₃⁻mmol/L222636uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.57, PaCO₂ 41 mmHg (5.5 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.57PaCO₂ 41 mmHg (5.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 136 mmol/L, glucose 14.1 mmol/L and urea 24.3 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 136 mmol/Lglucose 14.1 mmol/Lurea 24.3 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.18PaCO₂mmHg354536HCO₃⁻mmol/L222613appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.18, PaCO₂ 36 mmHg (4.8 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.18PaCO₂ 36 mmHg (4.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 40% oxygen shows PaO₂ 84 mmHg (11.2 kPa) and PaCO₂ 50 mmHg (6.7 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 40%PaO₂ 84 mmHg (11.2 kPa)PaCO₂ 50 mmHg (6.7 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory alkalosis
  2. 2. P/F = 387.5 mmHg
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. Osm = 310 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. A–a gradient = 138.7 mmHg

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