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
pH7.357.457.22PaCO₂mmHg354538HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.22, PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.22PaCO₂ 38 mmHg (5.1 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
2.Easy

Practice values: Na⁺ 148, K⁺ 5.2, Cl⁻ 106 and HCO₃⁻ 21 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 148 mmol/LK⁺ 5.2 mmol/LCl⁻ 106 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 21 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.20PaCO₂mmHg354540HCO₃⁻mmol/L222615uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.20, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.20PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 15 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis with HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. Use Winter’s formula to find the expected PaCO₂ (the centre of the range) in mmHg.

HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
PaCO₂ = mmHg
5.Hard
pH7.357.457.10PaCO₂mmHg354540HCO₃⁻mmol/L222612appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.10, PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.10PaCO₂ 40 mmHg (5.3 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis
6.Hard

At sea level, a practice gas taken on 21% oxygen shows PaO₂ 64 mmHg (8.5 kPa) and PaCO₂ 49 mmHg (6.5 kPa). Use PAO₂ = FiO₂·(760 − 47) − PaCO₂/0.8 to find the A–a gradient.

FiO₂ 21%PaO₂ 64 mmHg (8.5 kPa)PaCO₂ 49 mmHg (6.5 kPa)
A–a gradient = mmHg

Answer key

  1. 1. metabolic acidosis
  2. 2. AG = 21 mmol/L
  3. 3. uncompensated
  4. 4. PaCO₂ = 26 mmHg
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. A–a gradient = 24.48 mmHg

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