IX. Practice test for "ABGs--It's All In The Family"

Practice test for "ABGs--It's All In The Family
1 Mr. M is a 65 year old male admitted with a decreased LOC. He has a history of 
chronic bronchitis and heart failure. His vital signs are: T = 102, P = 104, RR = 28 
and shallow and B/P = 90/60. ABG results are as follows: 
pH 7.2 
PaCO2 75 mm Hg 
HCO3 26 mEq/L 

What is the acid base disturbance? 

Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis 
Metabolic Acidosis 
Metabolic Alkalosis
2 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated?
Compensated
Uncompensated 
3 What are some causes of this disorder?
vomiting, diarrhea, prolonged diuretics
pain, fever, hyperventilation
pneumonia, hypoventilation, pneumothorax
renal failure, ASA overdose, starvation, ketoacidosis
4 What are the interventions for this disorder?
IVF & Insulin, NAHCO3 based on ABGs only
vigorous pulmonary toilet, antibiotics, diuretics, mechanical ventilation
sedatives or analgesics, breathe into paper bag, mechanical vent to decrease rate
K+ replacement, Diamox 
5 Mrs G., who has CHF, has been having diarrhea for three days. You have 
noticed some LOC changes and she is breathing shallowly. The Dr. orders 
ABGs: 
pH 7.44 
PaCO2 50 mm Hg 
HCO3 31 mEq/L 
 

What is the acid base disturbance? 

Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis 
Metabolic Alkalosis 
6 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated? 
Compensated
Uncompensated
7 What are some causes of this disorder?
vomiting, diarrhea, prolonged diuretics
pain, fever, hyperventilation
pneumonia, hypoventilation, pneumothorax 
renal failure, ASA overdose, starvation, ketoacidosis
8 What are the interventions for this disorder? 
IVF & Insulin, NAHCO3 based on ABGs only 
vigorous pulmonary toilet, antibiotics, diuretics, mechanical ventilation
sedatives or analgesics, breathe into paper bag, mechanical vent to decrease rate
K+ replacement, Diamox
9 Ms. P., a 22 year old female, is admitted with an acute onset of fever, chills, and 
RUQ pain. Her vital signs are: T = 99.6, P = 125, RR = 32, B/P = 140/84. Her 
ABG results are: 
pH 7.53 
PaCO2 30 mm Hg 
HCO3 22 mEq/L 

What is the acid base disturbance? 

Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis
Metabolic Alkalosis
10 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated?
Compensated 
Uncompensated 
11 What are some causes of this disorder? 
vomiting, diarrhea, prolonged diuretics 
pain, fever, hyperventilation
pneumonia, hypoventilation, pneumothorax
renal failure, ASA overdose, starvation, ketoacidosis
12 What are the interventions for this disorder?
IVF & Insulin, NAHCO3 based on ABGs only
vigorous pulmonary toilet, antibiotics, diuretics, mechanical ventilation
sedatives or analgesics, breathe into paper bag, mechanical vent to decrease rate
K+ replacement, Diamox
13 Mrs. D. is a 45 year old female admitted with a history of diabetes. She has a 
temperature of 101.8, P = 110, RR = 30, B/P = 90/70. Labs are drawn and reveal 
a glucose of 780 mg/dl, postive ketones, and the following ABGs: 

pH 7.25 
PaCO2 30 mm Hg 
HCO3 22 mEq/L 
 

What is the acid base disturbance? 

Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis
Metabolic Alkalosis 
14 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated? 
Compensated
Uncompensated
15 What are some causes of this disorder? 
vomiting, diarrhea, prolonged diuretics 
pain, fever, hyperventilation 
pneumonia, hypoventilation, pneumothorax
renal failure, ASA overdose, starvation, ketoacidosis
16 What are the interventions for this disorder? 
IVF & Insulin, NAHCO3 based on ABGs only 
vigorous pulmonary toilet, antibiotics, diuretics, mechanical ventilation
sedatives or analgesics, breathe into paper bag, mechanical vent to decrease rate
K+ replacement, Diamox 
17 Mr. J calls you to his room with a complaint of shortness of breath. His SaO2 is 
89% on Room Air. He has rhonchi all lobes and a temperature of 101. P = 122, 
RR = 36, B/P = 160/92. RT draws ABGs with the following results: 

pH 7.33 
PaCO2 72 mm Hg 
HCO3 24 
 

What is the acid base disturbance? 

Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis 
Metabolic Alkalosis
18 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated?
Compensated 
Uncompensated 
19 Is his PaO2 normal?
Yes
No
20 Under what SaO2 does the PaO2 significantly decrease?
70%
95%
85%
92%
21 The PaO2 measures: 
hypoxia
anemia
hypoxemia
azotemia
22 How can you tell that your ABG is compensated?
The CO2 is 35 - 45
The HCO3 is 22 -26
The pH is 7.35 - 7.45
The O2 is > 90
23 What are some causes of low PaO2? 
low supply of O2 
decreased cardiac output
anemia 
carbon monoxide poisoning
all of the above
24 Interpret the following ABGs. 

pH = 7.41 CO2 = 30 HCO3 = 20 

Metabolic Acidosis
Metabolic Alkalosis
Respiratory Acidosis 
Respiratory Alkalosis
25 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated?
Compensated 
Uncompensated
26 pH = 7.30 CO2 = 75 HCO3 = 22 
Respiratory Acidosis 
Respiratory Alkalosis 
Metabolic Acidosis 
Metabolic Alkalosis 
27 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated? 
Compensated
Uncompensated
28 pH = 7.36 CO2 = 32 HCO3 = 20 
Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis
Metabolic Alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis
29 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated? 
Compensated
Uncompensated 
30 pH = 7.48 CO2 = 46 HCO3 = 28
Respiratory Acidosis 
Respiratory Alkalosis 
Metabolic Acidosis 
Metabolic Alkalosis 
31 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated? 
Compensated
Uncompensated
32 pH = 7.38 CO2 = 50 HCO3 = 27 
Respiratory Alkalosis 
Metabolic Acidosis
Metabolic Alkalosis
Respiratory Acidosis
33 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated? 
Compensated
Uncompensated
34 pH = 7.50 CO2 = 35 HCO3 = 32 
Respiratory Acidosis
Respiratory Alkalosis
Metabolic Acidosis 
Metabolic Alkalosis
35 Is this Compensated or Uncompensated?
Compensated 
Uncompensated 

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