But at this point the oxygen content in the blood is used up by the tissues. The radial artery on the wrist is most commonly used to obtain the sample. This helpful, practical book begins with a clear explanation of acidbase balance, followed by a straightforward sixstep approach to arterial blood gas interpretation. Apr 18, 2016 buy arterial blood gas analysis making it easy by anne mcleod isbn. The first covers basic physiology and concepts required for interpretation of blood gas results under four headings. University of connecticut acidbase online tutorial this site contains information on acidbase physiology, common acidbase abnormalities, cases and pearls of arterial blood gas interpretation. Once youve mastered this technique, youll be doing actual abg interpretation. Woodruff, msn, rnbc, cns, cmsrn, cen 6 easy steps to. Arterial blood gas analysis is a common investigation in emergency departments and intensive care units for monitoring patients with acute respiratory failure. It provides a measure of oxygen diffusion across the alveoli into the blood. This information indicates a patients acidbase balance, the effectiveness of their gas exchange and the state. Most doctors struggle with arterial blood gas abg interpretation. Once youve mastered this technique, youll be doing actual abg interpretation in the nclex with fun and excitement. Arterial blood gas determinations of pco2 provide the most accurate determinations of the adequacy of alveolar ventilation, but capillary, transcutaneous, and end tidal techniques are also useful.
Interpreting abgs arterial blood gases made easy ausmed. This is a video on abg arterial blood gas interpretation. But your doctor cant diagnose you based on an arterial blood gas test alone. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation is something many medical students find difficult to grasp weve been there. In case of delay, the sample should be placed in ice and such iced sample can be processed upto 2 hours without affecting the blood gas values. Arterial blood gases abg, a clinical test that involves measurement of the ph of arterial blood and the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolved in arterial blood, is routinely used in the diagnosis and monitoring of predominantly criticallyacutely ill patients being cared for in hospital emergency rooms and intensive care units. This tictactoe technique involves a few charts to help you visualize abgs. When one thinks of abg analysis, oxygenation may come to mind first. An arterial line in an appropriate patient is likely to save the patient victim of venepuncture multiple painful needles in the ed and during their hospital stayconsider doing a venous gas much of the important blood gas information can be elicited from a venous blood gas and it is much. One advantage of subscribing to rss feeds is that you dont have to constantly revisit this site to check for updates within specific sections you might be interested in because your browser or feed reader will do this for you automatically on a regular basis plus you can even get email. Interpret arterial blood gas results in a stepwise and logical manner to make a correct diagnosis. Cheryl miller is a registered nurse who earned both her m. Arterial blood gas interpretation calculator abg analysis. Weve created this guide, which aims to provide a structured approach to abg interpretation whilst also increasing your understanding of each results relevance.
If you want to put your abg interpretation skills to the test, check out our abg quiz. Nurses role in arterial puncture and abg analysis slideshare. The oxygen tension pao 2, carbon dioxide tension paco. Arterial blood gas analysis is widely available in hospitals. Aug 11, 2008 arterial blood gas interpretation slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising.
Arterial blood gas analysis is often perceived as one of the most difficult topics to be covered in the laboratory medicine curriculum, so many will welcome the. Arterial blood gas interpretation made easy on meducation. Know the causes of metabolic and respiratory acidosis and. The first priority for the respiratory system is ph. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Results of your arterial blood gas test usually are available in less than 15 minutes. Mar 14, 2016 diagnose any arterial blood gas in 5 easy steps. Arterial blood gas analysis is used to measure the ph and the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in arterial blood. All you really need to know to interpret arterial blood gases includes abc quik course.
Interpretation of arterial blood gas pubmed central pmc. However, the femoral artery and brachial artery can be used if necessary. Developed specifically for student nurses and based on the authors over thirty years of teaching experience, interpreting arterial blood gases the easy way teaches students a stepbystep method for interpreting blood gases and helps them learn how to apply the interpretations. I cant even believe how many times this little ditty went through my. A method of estimating the oxygen and carbonic acid in small quantities of blood. All you really need to know to interpret arterial blood gases. Therefore in an arterial blood gas test, the blood sample is drawn from an artery.
This workshop is intended as a basic introduction to arterial blood gas interpretation. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to remember how to decipher these important lab results. Arterial blood gas interpretation the arterial blood gas provides the following values. Arterial blood gas interpretation abg arterial blood gas analysis is used to measure the partial pressures of oxygen pao2, carbon dioxide paco2, and the ph of an arterial blood sample. March 14, 2016 april 24, 2017 joanne reading 10 comments it is important to understand that the ph in our bodies likes to stay within the very narrow range of 7. For this second edition of arterial blood gases made easy we have remained true to. Oxygen content o2ct, oxygen saturation sao2, and bicarbonate hco3 values are also measured.
As you struggle to listen to the machine company representative talking about cleaning the machine you think about lunch and briefly recall that you fell asleep in all those boring basic science lectures. Differences are subtle but important on venous gas. Arterial blood gas analysis plays an indispensable role in the assessment and management of patients with a huge range of acute medical and surgical problems. In this guide, we will teach you the eight 8 steps on how to interpret and analyze arterial blood gas abg results using the tictactoe method. Everyone can read an electrolyte level, but when faced with a list of abgs, most nurses wilt. Students can work around the table, looking at ph, then co2 and then hco3 and find the answer in the. So looking at blood gases means looking at absolute values and patterns. Download arterial blood gases made easy pdf book free from arterial blood gases made easy pdf.
We need to consider the numerical results of the blood gas in relation to previous blood gases and take in to account the patients history. Arterial blood provides more information than venous blood with regard to acidbase and oxygenation status. Arterial blood gas interpretation felicia ratnaraj internal medicine pgy 3. We may be presented increasingly with venous blood gases 2.
Mar 27, 2012 arterial blood gas analysis is widely available in hospitals. Description of the book arterial blood gases made easy. To see how to perform an arterial blood gas check out our guide here. Students can work around the table, looking at ph, then co2 and then hco3 and find the answer in the correct box. Blood can be drawn via an arterial stick from the wrist, groin, or above the elbow. Interpreting an arterial blood gas abg is a crucial skill for physicians, nurses, respiratory. Acid base status degree of oxygenation of blood and adequacy of.
Components of the arterial blood gas the arterial blood gas provides the following values. If youre new here, you may want to subscribe to our rss feed. Arterial blood gases indications and interpretation. However, the more complicated and in some ways more important part of abg analysis is ph regulation.
Arterial blood gas interpretation felicia ratnaraj internal medicine pgy 3 pm report. If partial pressure of carbon dioxide pco2 goes down, partial pressure of oxygen po2 should go up. Determination of the constant of the differential blood gas apparatus, with a note on the specific oxygen capacity of blood. During most blood testing procedures, blood is drawn from a vein. Arterial blood gas abg analysis is a fundamental skill in modern medicine yet one which many find difficult to grasp. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. The interpretation of arterial blood gases australian. May 23, 20 during your induction you are introduced to the practical workings of the point of care arterial blood gas abg machine in the ed.
Pdf version of a society for critical care medicine sccm lecture on arterial blood gas analysis opens in a new window. In cases where blood gas values do not fall into any of the above classifications, an answer unable to determine will appear when using the interpreter. Thus, will be impaired in lung disease such as copd. The authors then apply this approach to a wide range of realistic case studies that resemble situations readers are likely to encounter in practice. The investigation is relatively easy to perform and yields information that can guide the management of acute and chronic illnesses. I have explained the steps of abg interpretation with the help of some good examples. The paramedics arrived after 10 minutes, during which cpr had not been attempted. Interpreting arterial blood gases the easy way is an excellent choice for nursing programs. Its importance as a key tool in the workup of acutely unwell patients rivals that of the ecg and the chest xray.
Jan 26, 2015 other useful information from arterial blood gases. I have also made an idcardsized version which can be easily used on the ward. Analysis of arterial blood gases a comprehensive approach. Mistakes in arterial blood gas abg interpretation are common in clinical practice. Interpretation of arterial blood gases abgs david a. Aug 4, 2014 this poster offers a basic level of understanding of abgs for medical students. Consider an arterial line early in the ed stay if the patient is really sick. The following is a simplified explanation of abgs, including a practical. Arterial blood gas analysis workshop page 4 of 8 arterial blood gas analysis workshop scenario 1 initial information a 75 year old man presents to the accident and emergency department after a witnessed out of hospital vf cardiac arrest. Arterial blood gases made easy pdf download free ebooks. Upon arterial blood gas abg interpretation analysis, you could come to know, 1 oxygenation of blood through gas exchange in the lungs. Your doctor may run a blood gas analysis or arterial blood gas abg test if you are showing the signs of an oxygen, carbon dioxide, or ph imbalance such as confusion or difficulty breathing. This information indicates a patients acidbase balance, the effectiveness of their. Arterial blood gases abgs are measured in a laboratory test to determine the extent of compensation by the buffer system.
Arterial blood gas interpretation, abg analysis, rules for rapid abg analysis, anion gap, approach to mixed disorders introduction arterial blood gas abg analysis is an essential part of diagnosing and managing a patients oxygenation status and acidbase balance. Apr 03, 2020 an arterial blood gas requires the nurse to collect a small sample of blood generally, a full 1 ml. But it is often encountered that many students dont know how to read abg, and thats why we are providing arterial blood gas. Patients are often required to be checked for arterial blood gas analysis to find what exactly is happening in the body of patients system. This book provides readers with the core background knowledge required to understand the abg, explains how it is used in clinical practice and provides a unique system for interpreting results. Arterial blood gasses, or abgs, may be among the most complex and confusing parts of nursing practice. This poster offers a basic level of understanding of abgs for medical students. It can also be used in training respiratory therapists and emergency medical technicians. We often encounter patients who are critically sick and need monitoring more than vitals like bp and pulse rate. Abgs made easy arterial blood gas interpretation in 10. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Abg interpretation a guide to understanding abgs geeky medics. Arterial blood gas subinternship in critical care medicine.