An arterial blood gas is a sample of arterial blood, collected in a dedicated, heparinised syringe and analysed at the point of care. The sample must be taken from an artery, either via an arterial line or aspirated directly using a syringe. π
What does it tell you? π€
What doesnβt it tell you! Here is the run down:
ππ½ Gas exchange: PaCO2, PaO2, SpO2, O2 content π¬οΈ
Assesses ventilation, gas exchange and oxygen availability.
ππ½ Acid/base status: pH, bicarbonate, base excess βοΈ
Allows the cause and type of metabolic disturbance to be assessed.
ππ½ Haemoglobin: π©Έ
A rough marker of bleeding, guides transfusion.
ππ½ Electrolytes: Sodium, Potassium β‘
ππ½ Blood Glucose π¬
A helpful marker of poor tissue perfusion as a result of bleeding, sepsis, or parts of the body that have compromised blood flow.
ππ½ Extras: Methaemoglobin and carbon monoxide π‘οΈ
Other causes of abnormal oxygen delivery.
Putting this all together, the arterial blood gas is a simple and real-time method of diagnosing and managing disorders associated with:
β€οΈβπ©Ή Heart & Lung disease
βοΈ Acid/base disturbance
β‘ Electrolyte dysfunction
β οΈ Poisoning and exposure
For more information about arterial blood gases, check out our Live Series session on Monitoring! π₯
Ref: Castro D, Patil SM, Zubair M, et al. Arterial Blood Gas. [Updated 2024 Jan 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK536919/
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