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
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354580HCO₃⁻mmol/L222640respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 40 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.32PaCO₂ 80 mmHg (10.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 40 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 91 mmHg (12.1 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 30%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 91 mmHg (12.1 kPa)FiO₂ 30%
P/F = mmHg
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

Practice values: Na⁺ 146 mmol/L, glucose 29 mmol/L and urea 7.9 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 146 mmol/Lglucose 29 mmol/Lurea 7.9 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.17PaCO₂mmHg354548HCO₃⁻mmol/L222617appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.17, PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.17PaCO₂ 48 mmHg (6.4 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.32PaCO₂mmHg354573HCO₃⁻mmol/L222636acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.32, PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 36 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 7.32PaCO₂ 73 mmHg (9.7 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 36 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. respiratory acidosis
  2. 2. P/F = 303.3 mmHg
  3. 3. PaCO₂ = 32 mmHg
  4. 4. Osm = 329 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. chronic

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