Acid Base Worksheet Answers 
Acid-Base Practice Worksheet
Complex I
Spring Semester 2015
Interpret the following ABGs and list potential causes of each condition. Make sure you look at compensation, too!
pH 7.29 pCO2 38 HCO3 19
Acid-Base Imbalance: Metabolic acidosis, uncompensated
Potential Causes: renal failure, DKA, diarrhea, shock
Symptoms: headache, hypotension and flushing (from vasodilation), muscle twitches (from hyperkalemia), N/V/D, confusion. Also see Kussmaul resps to compensate
pH 7.45 pCO2 28 HCO3 20
Acid-Base Imbalance: Respiratory alkalosis, fully compensated
Potential Causes: hyperventilation (fear, pain, asthma), mechanical ventilation
Symptoms: LOC changes, N/V, tachycardia, seizures, numbness and tingling, hypokalemia
pH 7.22 pCO2 64 HCO3 19
Acid-Base Imbalance: Combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis
Potential Causes: COPD plus DKA or renal failure, any combination of things that cause each one
Symptoms: combinations of symptoms of both types
pH 7.35 pCO2 39 HCO3 24
Acid-Base Imbalance: nothing! This one is normal
Potential Causes: Living and breathing (LOL)
Symptoms: None
pH 7.29 pCO2 28 HCO3 14
Acid-Base Imbalance: Metabolic acidosis, partially compensated
Potential Causes: see above
Symptoms: see above
pH 7.51 pCO2 29 HCO3 27
Acid-Base Imbalance: Combined alkalosis
Potential Causes: vomiting plus hyperventilation, etc. (combine any causes)
Symptoms: combine any symptoms
pH 7.31 pCO2 59 HCO3 26
Acid-Base Imbalance: Respiratory acidosis, uncompensated
Potential Causes: COPD! Also can be caused by pneumonia, CNS disorder that causes hypoventilation, anything blocking exhalation
Symptoms: hypoventilation, hypoxia, vasodilation (causes flushing and hypotension), LOC changes, muscle weakness, hyperkalemia
pH 7.58 pCO2 76 HCO3 32
Acid-Base Imbalance: Metabolic alkalosis, partially compensated
Potential Causes: vomiting, GI suctioning, diuretic use, excessive antacid intake (NaHCO3)
Symptoms:
Complex I
Spring Semester 2015
Interpret the following ABGs and list potential causes of each condition. Make sure you look at compensation, too!
pH 7.29 pCO2 38 HCO3 19
Acid-Base Imbalance: Metabolic acidosis, uncompensated
Potential Causes: renal failure, DKA, diarrhea, shock
Symptoms: headache, hypotension and flushing (from vasodilation), muscle twitches (from hyperkalemia), N/V/D, confusion. Also see Kussmaul resps to compensate
pH 7.45 pCO2 28 HCO3 20
Acid-Base Imbalance: Respiratory alkalosis, fully compensated
Potential Causes: hyperventilation (fear, pain, asthma), mechanical ventilation
Symptoms: LOC changes, N/V, tachycardia, seizures, numbness and tingling, hypokalemia
pH 7.22 pCO2 64 HCO3 19
Acid-Base Imbalance: Combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis
Potential Causes: COPD plus DKA or renal failure, any combination of things that cause each one
Symptoms: combinations of symptoms of both types
pH 7.35 pCO2 39 HCO3 24
Acid-Base Imbalance: nothing! This one is normal
Potential Causes: Living and breathing (LOL)
Symptoms: None
pH 7.29 pCO2 28 HCO3 14
Acid-Base Imbalance: Metabolic acidosis, partially compensated
Potential Causes: see above
Symptoms: see above
pH 7.51 pCO2 29 HCO3 27
Acid-Base Imbalance: Combined alkalosis
Potential Causes: vomiting plus hyperventilation, etc. (combine any causes)
Symptoms: combine any symptoms
pH 7.31 pCO2 59 HCO3 26
Acid-Base Imbalance: Respiratory acidosis, uncompensated
Potential Causes: COPD! Also can be caused by pneumonia, CNS disorder that causes hypoventilation, anything blocking exhalation
Symptoms: hypoventilation, hypoxia, vasodilation (causes flushing and hypotension), LOC changes, muscle weakness, hyperkalemia
pH 7.58 pCO2 76 HCO3 32
Acid-Base Imbalance: Metabolic alkalosis, partially compensated
Potential Causes: vomiting, GI suctioning, diuretic use, excessive antacid intake (NaHCO3)
Symptoms: