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
pH7.357.457.53PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222634respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.53, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 34 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.53PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 34 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.50PaCO₂mmHg354525HCO₃⁻mmol/L222619respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.50, PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.50PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.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
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.27PaCO₂mmHg354525HCO₃⁻mmol/L222611appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.27, PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.27PaCO₂ 25 mmHg (3.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 11 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 79 mmHg (10.5 kPa) and PaCO₂ 32 mmHg (4.3 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 40%PaO₂ 79 mmHg (10.5 kPa)PaCO₂ 32 mmHg (4.3 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. respiratory alkalosis
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 32 mmHg
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 35 mmHg
  5. 5. appropriate compensation
  6. 6. A–a gradient = 166.2 mmHg

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