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
pH7.357.457.15PaCO₂mmHg354572HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.15, PaCO₂ 72 mmHg (9.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.15PaCO₂ 72 mmHg (9.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.12PaCO₂mmHg354577HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.12, PaCO₂ 77 mmHg (10.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.12PaCO₂ 77 mmHg (10.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.37PaCO₂mmHg354525HCO₃⁻mmol/L222614uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.37, PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.37PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 14 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.16PaCO₂mmHg354546HCO₃⁻mmol/L222616appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.16, PaCO₂ 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.16PaCO₂ 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.31PaCO₂mmHg354533HCO₃⁻mmol/L222616appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.31, PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.31PaCO₂ 33 mmHg (4.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. respiratory acidosis
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 32 mmHg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. appropriate compensation

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