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
pH7.357.457.53PaCO₂mmHg354552HCO₃⁻mmol/L222642respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.53, PaCO₂ 52 mmHg (6.9 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 42 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.53PaCO₂ 52 mmHg (6.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 42 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 139, K⁺ 4.2, Cl⁻ 100 and HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 139 mmol/LK⁺ 4.2 mmol/LCl⁻ 100 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.49PaCO₂mmHg354543HCO₃⁻mmol/L222632uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.49, PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 32 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.49PaCO₂ 43 mmHg (5.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 32 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 137 mmol/L, glucose 12.7 mmol/L and urea 9.8 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 137 mmol/Lglucose 12.7 mmol/Lurea 9.8 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard

Practice values: Na⁺ 145, Cl⁻ 112, HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L and albumin 35 g/L. Find the albumin-corrected anion gap AGc = AG + 0.25·(40 − albumin).

Na⁺ 145 mmol/LCl⁻ 112 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/Lalbumin 35 g/L
AGc = mmol/L
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.27PaCO₂mmHg354570HCO₃⁻mmol/L222631acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.27, PaCO₂ 70 mmHg (9.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L. Use the rules ‘HCO₃⁻ rises 1 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (acute) or 3.5 mmol/L per 10 mmHg (chronic)’ to classify it. Click your answer.

pH 7.27PaCO₂ 70 mmHg (9.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic alkalosis
  2. 2. AG = 22 mmol/L
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. Osm = 297 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. AGc = 15.25 mmol/L
  6. 6. acute on chronic

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