ABG QUIZ

• 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,
PaCO2 68 mm Hg, HCO3 28 mmol/L, and PaO2 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
• 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,
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?
• A. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Partially Compensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Partially, Compensated
• 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, PaO2 120 mm Hg, PaCO2 31 mm Hg, and
HCO3 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
• 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, PaO2 85 mm
Hg, PaCO2 40 mm Hg, and HCO3 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
• 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?
• A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
C. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
D. Metabolic Acidosis, Uncompensated
• 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?
• A. Respiratory Alkalosis, Fully Compensated
B. Metabolic Acidosis, Uncompensated
C. Metabolic Acidosis, Fully Compensated
D. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
• 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?
• A. Metabolic Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Metabolic Alkalosis, Uncompensated
C. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
• 8. Client Z is admitted to the hospital and is to
undergo brain surgery. The client is very anxious
and scared of the upcoming surgery. He begins
to hyperventilate and becomes very dizzy. The
client loses consciousness and the STAT ABGs
reveal pH 7.61, PaCO2 22 mmHg and HCO3 25
mEq/L. What is the ABG interpretation based on
the findings?
• A. Metabolic Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
C. Respiratory Alkalosis, Uncompensated
D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
• 9. Three-year-old Adrian is admitted to the
hospital with a diagnosis of asthma and
respiratory distress syndrome. The mother of
the child reports to the nurse on duty that she
has witnessed slight tremors and behavioral
changes in her child over the past four days. The
attending physician orders routine ABGs
following an assessment of the ABCs. The ABG
results are pH 7.35, PaCO2 72 mmHg and HCO3
38 mEq/L. What acid-base disorder is shown?
• A. Respiratory Acidosis, Uncompensated
B. Respiratory Acidosis, Fully Compensated
C. Respiratory Alkalosis, Fully Compensated
D. Metabolic Alkalosis, Partially Compensated
• 10. Anne, who is drinking beer at a party, falls
and hits her head on the ground. Her friend
Liza dials “911” because Anne is unconscious,
depressed ventilation (shallow and slow
respirations), rapid heart rate, and is
profusely bleeding from both ears. Which
primary acid-base imbalance is Anne at risk
for if medical attention is not provided?
• A. Metabolic Acidosis
B. Metabolic Alkalosis
C. Respiratory Acidosis
D. Respiratory Alkalosis