The following is a simplified explanation of abgs, including a practical method for interpreting results. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to remember how to decipher these important lab results. An arterial blood gas, or abg for short, is a test that measures the blood levels of oxygen pao2, carbon dioxide paco2, and acidbase balance ph in the body. Arterial blood gas abgs interpretation for nursing students and nurses. A venous blood gas often correlates well with arterial blood gas findings except for pao2 unless values are extremely abnormal, and can often be used. For this lesson, were going to look at the patho behind it and whats really going on with the patient the why behind the interpretation. Weve created this guide, which aims to provide a structured approach to abg interpretation whilst also increasing your understanding of each results relevance. Abg interpretation is especially important in critically ill patients. Jan 26, 2015 arterial blood gases abgs are an important routine investigation to monitor the acidbase balance of patients. Components of the arterial blood gas the arterial blood gas provides the following values. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation for medical students, osces and mrcp paces this section presents how to interpret arterial blood gases. May 06, 2015 abgs tic tac toe method for nurses with quiz.
Interpretation of arterial blood gases is a sample topic from the pocket icu management to view other topics, please sign in or purchase a subscription anesthesia central is an allinone web and mobile solution for treating patients before, during, and after surgery. Arterial blood gas interpretation felicia ratnaraj internal medicine pgy 3 pm report. Some blood gas analyzers also measure the methemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and hemoglobin levels. A blood gas test requires the collection of a small sample of blood. You draw a blood sample for arterial blood gas abg analysis. Jan 16, 2019 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.
An arterial blood gas abg analysis can tell you about a patients oxygenation, acidbase balance, pulmonary function, and metabolic status. Interpreting an arterial blood gas abg is a crucial skill for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other health care personnel. In this article, well describe a stepbystep approach to interpreting abg. Arterial partial pressure of oxygen pao2 pao2 is the partial pressure of oxygen within arterial blood.
The interpretation of arterial blood gases australian prescriber. In this lesson were going to start talking about interpretation of arterial blood gas results. The arterial blood gas abg analyzer interprets abg findings and values. Arterial blood can be obtained from an artery in your wrist, arm, or groin, or preexisting arterial line if you are currently. Blood is most commonly drawn from the radial artery because it is easily accessible, can be compressed to control bleeding, and has less risk for vascular occlusion. It is possible to have a mixed respiratory and metabolic disorder that makes interpretation of an arterial blood gas result difficult. Interpreting and using the arterial blood gas analysis. Arterial blood can be obtained from an artery in your wrist, arm, or groin, or preexisting arterial line if. This tictactoe technique involves a few charts to help you visualize abgs.
The following sixstep process helps ensure a complete interpretation of every abg. This indispensable tool helps you assess and monitor critically ill patients in the icu or other critical care settings. Information in this slide presentation is adapted from all you really need to know to interpret. Abgs made easy for nurses w tic tac toe method for arterial.
Tic tac toe method arterial blood gas abg interpretation. Abgs made easy for nurses w tic tac toe method for. But it is often encountered that many students dont know how to read abg, and thats why we are providing arterial blood gas. Acidbase evaluation requires a focus on three of the reported components. Apr 03, 2020 an arterial blood gas requires the nurse to collect a small sample of blood generally, a full 1 ml. It provides a near immediate reflection of the physiology of your patient, allowing you to recognise and treat pathology. Abg interpretation a guide to understanding abgs geeky medics. These disorders are termed complex acidbase or mixed disorders. Arterial blood gases indications and interpretation. Upon arterial blood gas abg interpretation analysis, you could come to know, 1 oxygenation of blood through gas exchange in the lungs.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. These data provide information regarding potential primary and compensatory processes that affect the bodys acidbase buffering system. 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 video tutorial is on how to setup arterial blood gas problems using the tic tac toe method. However, the femoral artery and brachial artery can be used if necessary. Dec 06, 2017 understand the arterial blood gas abg. Its a test that is used to assess how well oxygen is being distributed throughout the. Arterial blood gases abgs are an important routine investigation to monitor the acidbase balance of patients. Interpretation of arterial blood gases pocket icu management. Mistakes in arterial blood gas abg interpretation are common in clinical practice. Patients are often required to be checked for arterial blood gas analysis to find what exactly is happening in the body of patients system.
Abg interpretation a guide to understanding abgs geeky. Arterial blood gas abg course has taken the often confusing topic of acidbase balance broken it down into manageable chunks of information. Arterial blood gas interpretation felicia ratnaraj internal medicine pgy 3. Samples from the pulmonary artery are however, more accurate and can only be. Arterial blood gas interpretation 1 arterial blood gas interpretation lawrence martin, md, facp, fccp associate professor of medicine case western reserve university school of medicine, cleveland larry. This is relevant in febrile or hypothermic patients, so body temperature should be recorded at the time of collection. Arterial blood gases or abgs are the most accurate representation of a.
The arterial blood gas is used to evaluate both acidbase balance and oxygenation, each representing separate conditions. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation health and willness. An arterial blood gas abg is a test that measures the oxygen tension pao 2, carbon dioxide tension paco 2, acidity ph, oxyhemoglobin saturation sao 2, and bicarbonate hco 3 concentration in arterial blood. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation is something many medical students find difficult to grasp weve been there. Here is the easiest way to interpret abg results using the tic tac toe method. This basically measures the actual oxygen content of the blood. Usually due to overoxygenation from supplemental o2 think nonrebreather or too high fio2. Arterial blood gas interpretation calculator abg analysis.
An arterialblood gas abg test measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. Arterial blood gas abg analysis is an essential part of diagnosing and managing a patients gas exchange and acidbase balance status, and can also be useful in providing immediate information about electrolyte status. Its really easy to understand abg your way of explanation is really interesting and logic. Interpretation of arterial blood gases abgs david a. Interpretation of arterial blood gas pubmed central pmc. Arterial blood gas values have five basic components that you use to assess patients. 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. These results are usually available for interpretation within five minutes. This table is able to classify most clinical blood gas values but not all.
Test your knowledge on the webs most interactive blood gas learning tool. Blood can be drawn via an arterial stick from the wrist, groin, or above the elbow. Interpretation of arterial blood gases requires a systematic assessment of oxygenation, ph, standard bicarbonate shco 3. Apr 21, 2019 arterial blood gas analysis is used to determine the adequacy of oxygenation and ventilation, assess respiratory function and determine the acidbase balance. 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. An arterial blood gas test can find ways to help your lungs do their job. Arterial blood gas analysis is used to measure the ph and the partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in arterial blood.
Everyone can read an electrolyte level, but when faced with a list of abgs, most nurses wilt. They may help make a diagnosis, indicate the severity of a condition and help to assess treatment. Steps to an arterial blood gas analysis interpretation. Interpreting an arterial blood gas abg is a crucial skill for physicians, nurses. Abgs made easy for nurses w tic tac toe method for arterial blood gas interpretation duration.
Jul 01, 2019 a blood gas test requires the collection of a small sample of blood. Body temperature can also affect arterial blood gas tensions. For example abgs with an alkalemic ph may exhibit respiratory acidosis and metabolic alkalosis. Find out when you get it and what the results mean. Arterial blood for blood gas analysis is usually drawn by a respiratory therapist and sometimes a phlebotomist, a nurse, a paramedic or a doctor. Learn an organized approach to arterial blood gas analysis, incorporating serum and urine electrolyte values into your more advanced levels of analysis. Arterial blood gas analysis and acidbase balance disorders.
And were going to give you the three steps you will use every time when you interpret a blood gas. Arterial blood gas abg analysis is an essential part of diagnosing and managing a patients oxygenation status and acidbase balance. Normal values for pao2 is generally thought to be greater than 80 mmhg. It is simple, perhaps simplistic, but it will hopefully arm the reader with the tools and confidence to. Arterial blood gas interpretation teaching medicine. Abg study guide and practice questions arterial blood gases. An arterial blood gas requires the nurse to collect a small sample of blood generally, a full 1 ml. The most important points when assessing a patient are the history, examination and basic observations. The interpretation of arterial blood gases australian. The radial artery on the wrist is most commonly used to obtain the sample. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation for medical students. The usefulness of this diagnostic tool is dependent on being able to correctly interpret the results.
Arterial blood gas analysis dr abdullah pg 2 medicine amu aligarh 2. The oxygen tension pao 2, carbon dioxide tension paco. The pf ratio ratio between the pao 2 and the inspired oxygen concentration expressed as a fraction is a useful guide to the. Arterial blood gasses, or abgs, may be among the most complex and confusing parts of nursing practice. It explains each component in turn followed by clinical examples to work through. An abg test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the radial artery with a syringe and a thin needle, but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or another site is used. Its possible to have more than one disorder influencing blood gas values.
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