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

Practice values: Na⁺ 143, K⁺ 4.9, Cl⁻ 109 and HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L. Calculate the anion gap AG = Na⁺ − (Cl⁻ + HCO₃⁻), without potassium.

Na⁺ 143 mmol/LK⁺ 4.9 mmol/LCl⁻ 109 mmol/LHCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L
AG = mmol/L
2.Easy
pH7.357.457.59PaCO₂mmHg354526HCO₃⁻mmol/L222624respiratorymetabolicacidosisalkalosis

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.59, PaCO₂ 26 mmHg (3.5 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L. Which primary disorder is it? Click the cell in the grid.

pH 7.59PaCO₂ 26 mmHg (3.5 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L
  1. 1respiratory acidosis
  2. 2metabolic acidosis
  3. 3respiratory alkalosis
  4. 4metabolic alkalosis
3.Medium
pH7.357.457.23PaCO₂mmHg354527HCO₃⁻mmol/L222611uncompensatedpartially compensatedfully compensated

A practice arterial blood gas shows pH 7.23, PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa) and HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L. The primary disorder is metabolic acidosis. How far is it compensated? Click your answer.

pH 7.23PaCO₂ 27 mmHg (3.6 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 11 mmol/L
  1. 1uncompensated
  2. 2partially compensated
  3. 3fully compensated
4.Medium

A practice gas shows PaCO₂ 60 mmHg (8.0 kPa). Use the rule that in acute respiratory acidosis HCO₃⁻ rises by 1 mmol/L for every 10 mmHg that PaCO₂ is above 40, starting from HCO₃⁻ 24 mmol/L, to find the expected HCO₃⁻.

PaCO₂ 60 mmHg (8.0 kPa)baseline: 40 mmHg, 24 mmol/L
HCO₃⁻ = mmol/L
5.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
6.Hard
pH7.357.457.28PaCO₂mmHg354522HCO₃⁻mmol/L222610appropriate compensationadded respiratory acidosisadded respiratory alkalosis

A practice gas shows a metabolic acidosis: pH 7.28, PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa), HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L. Compare the measured PaCO₂ with Winter’s formula. Click your interpretation.

pH 7.28PaCO₂ 22 mmHg (2.9 kPa)HCO₃⁻ 10 mmol/L
  1. 1appropriate compensation
  2. 2added respiratory acidosis
  3. 3added respiratory alkalosis

Answer key

  1. 1. AG = 23 mmol/L
  2. 2. respiratory alkalosis
  3. 3. partially compensated
  4. 4. HCO₃⁻ = 26 mmol/L
  5. 5. added respiratory acidosis
  6. 6. appropriate compensation

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