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UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL OF THE WEST INDIES

NURSING STAFF DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS QUIZ

1.

A patient with the following A.B.G values was admitted to the emergency room, assess
each value.
Parameter
pH

Value
7.11

Assessment
_____________________

PCO2

40 mmHg

_____________________

HCO3

12 mEq/L

_____________________

B. E.

-18

_____________________

Acid-base status: ___________________________________________________

Is there any compensation? (Explain your answer)
_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Name three conditions which may cause this condition

a. ______________________________________________
b. ______________________________________________
c. ______________________________________________

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2.

Mrs. B., a patient with emphysema comes to the emergency room with a report of
shortness of breath, an increased amount of expectorate, and general malaise. Assess her
A.B.G. values.
Parameter

Value

Assessment

pH

7.20

__________________________

PCO2

55 mmHg

__________________________

HCO3

20.5 mEq/L

__________________________

B. E.

-8

__________________________

PO2

44 mmHg

__________________________

O2 Sat

69 %

__________________________

Acid-Base status: ___________________________________________________

Is there any compensation? (Explain your answer)
_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

Oxygenation status: _________________________________________________

Name at least two (2) conditions which may have caused Mrs. B.s Acid-base imbalance.
a. _____________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________

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3. Mr. C., has a history of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, is being treated in the critical care
unit for an acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. Assess his A.B.G. values.
Parameter
pH

Value
7.37

Assessment
______________________________

PCO2

58 mmHg

______________________________

HCO3

32 mEq/L

______________________________

B.E.

+7

______________________________

PO2

57 mmHg

______________________________

SaO2

89 %

______________________________

Acid-Base Status: ______________________________________________

Is there compensation? (Explain your answer)
_______________________________________________________________________
_
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
__

Oxygenation Status: _________________________________________________

What may have caused this imbalance?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

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_______________________________________________________________________
___

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4. The next day, Mr. C. reports severe chest pain. Despite administration of nitroglycerine, he
continues to complain of chest pain, and is becoming drowsy and confused. The doctor orders an
A.B.G., oxygen 3 litres by nasal cannula, and Morphine 5 mg I.V stat. Assess his A.B.G. values.
Parameter
pH

Value
7.25

Assessment
____________________________________

pCO2

28

____________________________________

HCO3

12

____________________________________

B.E.

-14

____________________________________

PO2

50mmHg

____________________________________

SaO2

79 %

____________________________________

Acid-Base Status: _________________________________________________________

Is there any compensation? (Explain your answer)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
__
_____________________________________________________________________________
_

Oxygenation Status: _______________________________________________________

What may have caused this imbalance? ________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Propose possible treatment. _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________
5. Mr. E. was involved in a motor vehicle accident and has been admitted to the ICU. Assess his
ABG values.
Parameter

Value

Assessment

pH

7.52

____________________________

PCO2

27

____________________________

HCO3

22 mE/qL

____________________________

B.E.

____________________________

PO2

53 mmHg

____________________________

SaO2

91 %

____________________________

Acid-Base Status: _______________________________________________________

Is there any compensation? (Explain your answer)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
___

Oxygenation Status: _______________________________________________________

Mr. E is diagnosed as having a pulmonary embolus. What other conditions may cause this
imbalance?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________
___

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6. Miss S., a twenty-seven year old quadriplegic has a large infected leg ulcer is admitted to the
ICU after surgical treatment. She suddenly appears confused, short of breath, and upon
auscultation of the posterior lobe of the lungs, you hear crackles from the base of the scapula.
Assess her ABG values.
Parameter

Value

Assessment

pH

7.11

______________________________

PCO2

66 mmHg

______________________________

B. E.

-11

______________________________

PO2

44mmHg

______________________________

SaO2

63 %

______________________________

Acid-Base Status: _________________________________________________________

Is there any compensation?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Oxygenation Status: _______________________________________________________

Name at least two (2) possible causes of the imbalance
a. ___________________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________________
What treatment may alleviate the imbalance?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________
___
7.

One hour after treatment, Miss S.s A.B.G values indicated a change in her acid-base
status. Assess the values:
Parameter
pH

Value
7.47

Assessment
_______________________________________________

PCO2

38 mmHg

_______________________________________________

HCO3

28 mEq/L

_______________________________________________

B.E.

+4

_______________________________________________

PO2

87 mmHg

_______________________________________________

SaO2

97 %

________________________________________________
Acid-Base Status: _________________________________________________________
Is there any compensation? (Explain your answer)
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
___

Oxygenation Status: _______________________________________________________

Why is the pH not normal?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
__

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