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
pH7.357.457.31PaCO₂mmHg354527HCO₃⁻mmol/L222613respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.31, PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.31PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 13 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

A practice blood gas shows PaO₂ 66 mmHg (8.8 kPa) while the inspired oxygen is 100%. Calculate the ratio P/F = PaO₂/FiO₂ in mmHg.

PaO₂ 66 mmHg (8.8 kPa)FiO₂ 100%
P/F = mmHg
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.38PaCO₂mmHg354530HCO₃⁻mmol/L222617uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.38, PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.38PaCO₂ 30 mmHg (4.0 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 17 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium
pH7.357.457.44PaCO₂mmHg354557HCO₃⁻mmol/L222637uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.44, PaCO₂ 57 mmHg (7.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 37 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic alkalosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.44PaCO₂ 57 mmHg (7.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 37 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
5.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 21% oxygen shows PaO₂ 58 mmHg (7.7 kPa) and PaCO₂ 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 21%PaO₂ 58 mmHg (7.7 kPa)PaCO₂ 46 mmHg (6.1 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.22PaCO₂mmHg354540HCO₃⁻mmol/L222616appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.22, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.22PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 16 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. P/F = 66 mmHg
  3. 3. fully compensated
  4. 4. fully compensated
  5. 5. A–a gradient = 34.23 mmHg
  6. 6. added respiratory acidosis

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