ACID-BASE BALANCE PROBLEMS

For Nursing 304

Directions: Analyze each component of each set of arterial blood gas (ABG) results, and
determine if the findings indicate balance or imbalance. If an imbalance exists, determine if it is
acidotic or alkalotic in nature. Then determine if the imbalance represents a respiratory
problem or a metabolic problem. Once you have decided what the ABG values indicate, and if
an imbalance exists, write at least one cause that could be the underlying reason for the
imbalance (don’t use the same reason repeatedly).

1. pH 7.34 2. pH 7.29
PaCO2 38 PaCO2 47
HCO3 20 HCO3 28

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

3. pH 7.54 4. pH 7.32
PaCO2 49 PaCO2 32
HCO3 34 HCO3 20

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

5. pH 7.21 6. pH 7.49
PaCO2 36 PaCO2 29
HCO3 20 HCO3 24

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

7. pH 7.43 8. pH 7.25
PaCO2 40 PaCO2 61
HCO3 23 HCO3 23

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

9. pH 7.63 10. pH 7.15

 PaCO2 31 PaCO2 30
HCO3 19 HCO3 10

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

11. pH 7.30 12. pH 7.61

PaCO2 38 PaCO2 10
HCO3 20 HCO3 20

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

13. pH 7.20 14. pH 7.45

PaCO2 55 PaCO2 38
HCO3 28 HCO3 23

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

15. pH 7.55 16. pH 7.12

PaCO2 24 PaCO2 80
HCO3 23 HCO3 22

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

17. pH 7.52 18. pH 7.19

PaCO2 40 PaCO2 70
HCO3 40 HCO3 24

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

19. pH 7.15 20. pH 7.51

PaCO2 56 PaCO2 40
HCO3 15 HCO3 29
 Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

21. pH 7.31 22. pH 7.49

PaCO2 40 PaCO2 30
HCO3 21 HCO3 24

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

23. pH 7.32 24. pH 7.36

PaCO2 20 PaCO2 45
HCO3 21 HCO3 22

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

25. pH 7.47 26. pH 6.99

PaCO2 33 PaCO2 78
HCO3 29 HCO3 40

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

27. pH 7.40 28. pH 7.33

PaCO2 40 PaCO2 30
HCO3 24 HCO3 8

Analysis: Analysis:
Cause: Cause:

Answers for Acid-Base Balance Problems

Nursing 304

1. Metabolic acidosis
2. Respiratory acidosis
3. Metabolic alkalosis
4. Metabolic acidosis
5. Metabolic acidosis
6. Respiratory alkalosis
7. Normal ABG
8. Respiratory acidosis
9. Respiratory alkalosis
10. Metabolic acidosis
11. Metabolic acidosis
12. Respiratory alkalosis
13. Respiratory acidosis
14. Normal ABG
15. Respiratory alkalosis
16. Respiratory acidosis
17. Metabolic alkalosis
18. Respiratory acidosis
19. Metabolic and respiratory acidosis
20. Metabolic alkalosis
21. Metabolic acidosis
22. Respiratory alkalosis
23. Metabolic acidosis
24. Normal ABG
25. Metabolic and respiratory alkalosis
26. Respiratory acidosis
27. Normal ABG
28. Metabolic acidosis