Arterial Blood Gas Interpretation Practice Exam
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1. George Kent is a 54-year-old widower with a history of chronic obstruc-
tive pulmonary disease and was rushed to the emergency department with
increasing shortness of breath, pyrexia, and a productive cough with yel-
low-green sputum. He has difficulty 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 tachycardia and a bounding pulse. Measurement of arterial
blood gas shows pH 7.3, PaCO2 68 mm Hg, HCO3 28 mmol/L, and PaO2 60 mm
Hg. How would you interpret this?: 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 stim-
ulation. 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, PaO2 90
mm Hg, PaCO2 23 mm Hg, and HCO3 12 mmol/L; other results are Na+ 126
mmol/L, K+ 5 mmol/L, and Cl- 95 mmol/L. What is your assessment?: Metabolic
Acidosis, Partially, Compensated
The student was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The results show that he has
metabolic acidosis (low HCO3 -) with respiratory compensation (low CO2).
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 tachy-
cardic and tachypneic. Painkillers were carried out to lessen her pain. Sud-
denly, 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, PaO2 120 mm Hg, PaCO2 31 mm Hg, and HCO3 25 mmol/L.
What does this mean?: Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
The primary disorder is acute respiratory alkalosis (low CO2) due to the pain
and anxiety causing her to hyperventilate. There has not been time for metabolic
compensation.
4. Ricky's grandmother has been 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
1/7
, Arterial Blood Gas Interpretation Practice Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fq7z2x
of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 40 mm Hg,
and HCO3 34 mmol/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?: Metabolic Alkalosis,
Uncompensated
The primary disorder is uncompensated metabolic alkalosis (high HCO3 -). As CO2
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, PaCO2 70 mm Hg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L. What does this
mean?: Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
The results show that Mrs. Johansson has respiratory acidosis because of de-
creased pH and increased PaCO2 which means acidic in nature. Meanwhile, it is
uncompensated because HCO3 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, PaCO2
27 mmHg, and HCO3 19 mEq/L. What does this mean?: Metabolic Acidosis, Fully
Compensated
Baby Angela has metabolic acidosis due to decreased HCO3 and slightly acidic pH.
Her pH value is within the normal range which made the result fully compensated.
7. Mr. Wales, who underwent post-abdominal surgery, has a nasogastric tube.
The nurse on duty notes that the nasogastric tube (NGT) is draining a large
amount (900 cc in 2 hours) of coffee ground secretions. The client is not
oriented to person, place, or time. The nurse contacts the attending physician
and STAT ABGs are ordered. The results from the ABGs show pH 7.57, PaCO2
37 mmHg and HCO3 30 mEq/L. What is your assessment?: Metabolic Alkalosis,
Uncompensated
The postoperative client's ABG results show that he has metabolic alkalosis because
2/7
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fq7z2x
1. George Kent is a 54-year-old widower with a history of chronic obstruc-
tive pulmonary disease and was rushed to the emergency department with
increasing shortness of breath, pyrexia, and a productive cough with yel-
low-green sputum. He has difficulty 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 tachycardia and a bounding pulse. Measurement of arterial
blood gas shows pH 7.3, PaCO2 68 mm Hg, HCO3 28 mmol/L, and PaO2 60 mm
Hg. How would you interpret this?: 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 stim-
ulation. 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, PaO2 90
mm Hg, PaCO2 23 mm Hg, and HCO3 12 mmol/L; other results are Na+ 126
mmol/L, K+ 5 mmol/L, and Cl- 95 mmol/L. What is your assessment?: Metabolic
Acidosis, Partially, Compensated
The student was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. The results show that he has
metabolic acidosis (low HCO3 -) with respiratory compensation (low CO2).
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 tachy-
cardic and tachypneic. Painkillers were carried out to lessen her pain. Sud-
denly, 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, PaO2 120 mm Hg, PaCO2 31 mm Hg, and HCO3 25 mmol/L.
What does this mean?: Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
The primary disorder is acute respiratory alkalosis (low CO2) due to the pain
and anxiety causing her to hyperventilate. There has not been time for metabolic
compensation.
4. Ricky's grandmother has been 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
1/7
, Arterial Blood Gas Interpretation Practice Exam
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_fq7z2x
of arterial blood gas shows pH 7.5, PaO2 85 mm Hg, PaCO2 40 mm Hg,
and HCO3 34 mmol/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?: Metabolic Alkalosis,
Uncompensated
The primary disorder is uncompensated metabolic alkalosis (high HCO3 -). As CO2
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, PaCO2 70 mm Hg, and HCO3 24 mEq/L. What does this
mean?: Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
The results show that Mrs. Johansson has respiratory acidosis because of de-
creased pH and increased PaCO2 which means acidic in nature. Meanwhile, it is
uncompensated because HCO3 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, PaCO2
27 mmHg, and HCO3 19 mEq/L. What does this mean?: Metabolic Acidosis, Fully
Compensated
Baby Angela has metabolic acidosis due to decreased HCO3 and slightly acidic pH.
Her pH value is within the normal range which made the result fully compensated.
7. Mr. Wales, who underwent post-abdominal surgery, has a nasogastric tube.
The nurse on duty notes that the nasogastric tube (NGT) is draining a large
amount (900 cc in 2 hours) of coffee ground secretions. The client is not
oriented to person, place, or time. The nurse contacts the attending physician
and STAT ABGs are ordered. The results from the ABGs show pH 7.57, PaCO2
37 mmHg and HCO3 30 mEq/L. What is your assessment?: Metabolic Alkalosis,
Uncompensated
The postoperative client's ABG results show that he has metabolic alkalosis because
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