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Normal values: pH 7.35-7.45, pCO2 4.6-6 kPa (35-45 mmHg), pO2 12 to 13 kPa (90-100
mmHg), standard HCO3 22 to 26 mmol/L, BE -2 to 2 mmol/L
Scenario 01
A 24 year old woman is found unconscious in the toilet of a disco. On arrival at the A&E
Department, she is found to be unresponsive to pain and to have small pin-point pupils and
slow irregular breathing. She is given oxygen supplement of 2L/min by nasal catheter.
ABG results: pH 7.11, pCO2 10.4kPa (79 mmHg), pO2 16.8 kPa (128 mmHg), BE -2mmol/L
Scenario 02
A 12 year old boy is found collapsed at school. He has been complaining of polyuria and
polydipsia in the past 2 weeks.
ABG results: pH 7.32, pCO2 3kPa (23 mmHg), pO2 14.3 kPa (108 mmHg), BE -12 mmol/L
Scenario 03
A 65 year old man presents to the A&E department with chest pain and shortness of breath.
He is given oxygen by nasal catheter at 2L/min. His ECG shows acute myocardial infarction.
ABG results: pH 7.47, pCO2 4.4kPa (33mmHg), pO2 12.5 kPa (95 mmHg), BE 0mmol/L
A frail 85 year old woman develops sudden onset of abdominal pain for 4 hours. She is given
oxygen supplement by nasal catheter at 2L/min.
ABG result: pH 7.19, pCO2 4.6 kPa (35 mmHg), pO2 12.9 kPa (98 mmHg), BE -12 mmol/L
Scenario 05
ABG results: pH 7.52, pCO2 4.1 kPa (31 mmHg), pO2 11.6 kPa (88 mmHg), BE +2 mmol/L
Scenario 06
A 68 year old man with chronic obstructive airway disease and respiratory failure is home
bound. Among other medications he receives oxygen supplement of 1L/min by nasal
catheter
ABG results: pH 7.34, pCO2 7.9 kPa (60mmHg), pO2 8.6 kPa (65 mmHg), BE 6 mmol/L
A 68 year old man with chronic renal failure presents to the A&E with 3 days history of
increasing shortness of breath
ABG Results: pH 7.33, pCO2 3.2 kPa (24mmHg), pO2 11.6 kPa (88 mmHg), BE -11 mmol/L
Scenario 08
A 34 year old laborer has fallen from a 15 feet scaffolding at work and is brought to the A&E
department bleeding heavily from a compounding fracture of his right femur. He is given an
oxygen supplement by facemask at 10L/min
ABG results: pH 7.07, pCO2 8kPa (61 mmHg), pO2 10.1 kPa (77mmHg), BE -11mmol/L