ABG Test Questions and answers| DISTICTION
1. George Kent is a 54 year old widower with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and was rushed to the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath, pyrexia, and a
productive cough with yellow-green sputum. He has difficulty in communicating because of his
inability to complete a sentence. One of his sons, Jacob, says he has been unwell for three days.
Upon examination, crackles and wheezes can be heard in the lower lobes; he has a tachycardia
and a bounding pulse. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.3, PaCÓ 68 mm Hg, HCǑ
28 mmol/L, and PaÓ 60 mm Hg. How would you interpret this?
A. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Partially Compensated Correct Answer: 1. Answer: B. Respiratory
Acidosis, Partially Compensated
The patient has respiratory acidosis (raised carbon dioxide) resulting from an acute exacerbation
of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with partial compensation.
2. Carl, an elementary student, was rushed to the hospital due to vomiting and a decreased level
of consciousness. The patient displays slow and deep (Kussmaul breathing), and he is lethargic
and irritable in response to stimulation. He appears to be dehydrated—his eyes are sunken and
mucous membranes are dry—and he has a two week history of polydipsia, polyuria, and weight
loss. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.0, PaÓ 90 mm Hg, PaCÓ 23 mm Hg, and
HCǑ 12 mmol/L; other results are Na+ 126 mmol/L, K+ 5 mmol/L, and Cl- 95 mmol/L. What is
your assessment?
A. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Partially, Compensated Correct Answer: 2. Answer: D. Metabolic
Acidosis, Partially, Compensated
The student was diagnosed having diabetes mellitus. The results show that he has metabolic
acidosis (low HCǑ -) with respiratory compensation (low CÓ).
3. A cigarette vendor was brought to the emergency department of a hospital after she fell into
the ground and hurt her left leg. She is noted to be tachycardic and tachypneic. Painkillers were
carried out to lessen her pain. Suddenly, she started complaining that she is still in pain and now
experiencing muscle cramps, tingling, and paraesthesia. Measurement of arterial blood gas
reveals pH 7.6, PaÓ 120 mm Hg, PaCÓ 31 mm Hg, and HCǑ 25 mmol/L. What does this mean?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
, D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated Correct Answer: 3. Answer: A. Respiratory
Alkalosis, Uncompensated
The primary disorder is acute respiratory alkalosis (low CÓ) due to the pain and anxiety causing
her to hyperventilate. There has not been time for metabolic compensation.
4. Ricky's grandmother is suffering from persistent vomiting for two days now. She appears to be
lethargic and weak and has myalgia. She is noted to have dry mucus membranes and her
capillary refill takes >4 seconds. She is diagnosed as having gastroenteritis and dehydration.
Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaÓ 85 mm Hg, PaCÓ 40 mm Hg, and HCǑ
34 mmol/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated Correct Answer: 4. Answer: C. Metabolic
Alkalosis, Uncompensated
The primary disorder is uncompensated metabolic alkalosis (high HCǑ -). As CÓ is the strongest
driver of respiration, it generally will not allow hypoventilation as compensation for metabolic
alkalosis.
5. Mrs. Johansson, who had undergone surgery in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), is
difficult to arouse two hours following surgery. Nurse Florence in the PACU has been
administering Morphine Sulfate intravenously to the client for complaints of post-surgical pain.
The client's respiratory rate is 7 per minute and demonstrates shallow breathing. The patient does
not respond to any stimuli! The nurse assesses the ABCs (remember Airway, Breathing,
Circulation!) and obtains ABGs STAT! Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.10, PaCÓ
70 mm Hg and HCǑ 24 mEq/L. What does this mean?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Uncompensated Correct Answer: 5. Answer: B. Respiratory Acidosis,
Uncompensated
The results show that Mrs. Johansson has respiratory acidosis because of decreased pH and
increased PaCÓ which mean acidic in nature. Meanwhile, it is uncompensated because HCǑ is
within the normal range.
6. Baby Angela was rushed to the Emergency Room following her mother's complaint that the
infant has been irritable, difficult to breastfeed and has had diarrhea for the past 3 days. The
infant's respiratory rate is elevated and the fontanels are sunken. The Emergency Room physician
orders ABGs after assessing the ABCs. The results from the ABG results show pH 7.39, PaCÓ
27 mmHg and HCǑ 19 mEq/L. What does this mean?
1. George Kent is a 54 year old widower with a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
and was rushed to the emergency department with increasing shortness of breath, pyrexia, and a
productive cough with yellow-green sputum. He has difficulty in communicating because of his
inability to complete a sentence. One of his sons, Jacob, says he has been unwell for three days.
Upon examination, crackles and wheezes can be heard in the lower lobes; he has a tachycardia
and a bounding pulse. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.3, PaCÓ 68 mm Hg, HCǑ
28 mmol/L, and PaÓ 60 mm Hg. How would you interpret this?
A. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Partially Compensated Correct Answer: 1. Answer: B. Respiratory
Acidosis, Partially Compensated
The patient has respiratory acidosis (raised carbon dioxide) resulting from an acute exacerbation
of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with partial compensation.
2. Carl, an elementary student, was rushed to the hospital due to vomiting and a decreased level
of consciousness. The patient displays slow and deep (Kussmaul breathing), and he is lethargic
and irritable in response to stimulation. He appears to be dehydrated—his eyes are sunken and
mucous membranes are dry—and he has a two week history of polydipsia, polyuria, and weight
loss. Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.0, PaÓ 90 mm Hg, PaCÓ 23 mm Hg, and
HCǑ 12 mmol/L; other results are Na+ 126 mmol/L, K+ 5 mmol/L, and Cl- 95 mmol/L. What is
your assessment?
A. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Partially, Compensated Correct Answer: 2. Answer: D. Metabolic
Acidosis, Partially, Compensated
The student was diagnosed having diabetes mellitus. The results show that he has metabolic
acidosis (low HCǑ -) with respiratory compensation (low CÓ).
3. A cigarette vendor was brought to the emergency department of a hospital after she fell into
the ground and hurt her left leg. She is noted to be tachycardic and tachypneic. Painkillers were
carried out to lessen her pain. Suddenly, she started complaining that she is still in pain and now
experiencing muscle cramps, tingling, and paraesthesia. Measurement of arterial blood gas
reveals pH 7.6, PaÓ 120 mm Hg, PaCÓ 31 mm Hg, and HCǑ 25 mmol/L. What does this mean?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
, D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated Correct Answer: 3. Answer: A. Respiratory
Alkalosis, Uncompensated
The primary disorder is acute respiratory alkalosis (low CÓ) due to the pain and anxiety causing
her to hyperventilate. There has not been time for metabolic compensation.
4. Ricky's grandmother is suffering from persistent vomiting for two days now. She appears to be
lethargic and weak and has myalgia. She is noted to have dry mucus membranes and her
capillary refill takes >4 seconds. She is diagnosed as having gastroenteritis and dehydration.
Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaÓ 85 mm Hg, PaCÓ 40 mm Hg, and HCǑ
34 mmol/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated Correct Answer: 4. Answer: C. Metabolic
Alkalosis, Uncompensated
The primary disorder is uncompensated metabolic alkalosis (high HCǑ -). As CÓ is the strongest
driver of respiration, it generally will not allow hypoventilation as compensation for metabolic
alkalosis.
5. Mrs. Johansson, who had undergone surgery in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), is
difficult to arouse two hours following surgery. Nurse Florence in the PACU has been
administering Morphine Sulfate intravenously to the client for complaints of post-surgical pain.
The client's respiratory rate is 7 per minute and demonstrates shallow breathing. The patient does
not respond to any stimuli! The nurse assesses the ABCs (remember Airway, Breathing,
Circulation!) and obtains ABGs STAT! Measurement of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.10, PaCÓ
70 mm Hg and HCǑ 24 mEq/L. What does this mean?
A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Uncompensated Correct Answer: 5. Answer: B. Respiratory Acidosis,
Uncompensated
The results show that Mrs. Johansson has respiratory acidosis because of decreased pH and
increased PaCÓ which mean acidic in nature. Meanwhile, it is uncompensated because HCǑ is
within the normal range.
6. Baby Angela was rushed to the Emergency Room following her mother's complaint that the
infant has been irritable, difficult to breastfeed and has had diarrhea for the past 3 days. The
infant's respiratory rate is elevated and the fontanels are sunken. The Emergency Room physician
orders ABGs after assessing the ABCs. The results from the ABG results show pH 7.39, PaCÓ
27 mmHg and HCǑ 19 mEq/L. What does this mean?
