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
pH7.357.457.22PaCO₂mmHg354515HCO₃⁻mmol/L22266respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.22, PaCO₂ 15 mmHg (2.0 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.22PaCO₂ 15 mmHg (2.0 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 6 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 67 mmHg (8.9 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 70%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 67 mmHg (8.9 kPa)FiO₂ 70%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.11PaCO₂mmHg354539HCO₃⁻mmol/L222612uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.11, PaCO₂ 39 mmHg (5.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.11PaCO₂ 39 mmHg (5.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 149 mmol/L, glucose 21.5 mmol/L and urea 12.9 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 149 mmol/Lglucose 21.5 mmol/Lurea 12.9 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.18PaCO₂mmHg354542HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.18, PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.18PaCO₂ 42 mmHg (5.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.26PaCO₂mmHg354572HCO₃⁻mmol/L222631acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.26, PaCO₂ 72 mmHg (9.6 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 7.26PaCO₂ 72 mmHg (9.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 31 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. P/F = 95.71 mmHg
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. Osm = 332 mOsm/kg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. acute on chronic

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