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
pH7.357.457.20PaCO₂mmHg354524HCO₃⁻mmol/L22269respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 24 mmHg (3.2 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.20PaCO₂ 24 mmHg (3.2 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 9 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 135, K⁺ 5.2, Cl⁻ 97 and HCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 135 mmol/LK⁺ 5.2 mmol/LCl⁻ 97 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 19 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium

Practice values: Na⁺ 133 mmol/L, glucose 29.4 mmol/L and urea 14.1 mmol/L. Calculate the serum osmolality Osm = 2·Na⁺ + glucose + urea to the nearest whole number.

Na⁺ 133 mmol/Lglucose 29.4 mmol/Lurea 14.1 mmol/L
Osm = mOsm/kg
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.49PaCO₂mmHg354547HCO₃⁻mmol/L222635uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.49, PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 35 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.49PaCO₂ 47 mmHg (6.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 35 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.23PaCO₂mmHg354581HCO₃⁻mmol/L222633acutechronicacute on chronic

A practice gas shows a respiratory acidosis: pH 7.23, PaCO₂ 81 mmHg (10.8 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 33 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 7.23PaCO₂ 81 mmHg (10.8 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 33 mmol/L
  1. 1acute
  2. 2chronic
  3. 3acute on chronic
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.19PaCO₂mmHg354549HCO₃⁻mmol/L222618appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.19, PaCO₂ 49 mmHg (6.5 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.19PaCO₂ 49 mmHg (6.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 18 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. AG = 19 mmol/L
  3. 3. Osm = 310 mOsm/kg
  4. 4. partially compensated
  5. 5. acute on chronic
  6. 6. added respiratory acidosis

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