ABG

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Created by
Ismail Mohsen

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Cards (32)

  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
    A blood test that measures the acidity, or pH, and the levels of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from an artery
  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)

    • Used to check the function of the patient's lungs and how well they are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide
    • One of the most commonly used tests to measure oxygenation and blood acid levels, two important measures of a patient's clinical status
    • Commonly performed in the ICU and ER setting
  • How to Draw an ABG
    1. Collect a small sample of blood, generally a full 1 ml³
    2. Blood can be drawn via an arterial stick from the wrist, groin, or above the elbow
    3. The radial artery on the wrist is most commonly used to obtain the sample
    4. The femoral artery and brachial artery can be used if necessary
    5. If the patient already has a pre-existing arterial line, this can be used to obtain the sample
    6. Once the blood is obtained, it is either sent to the hospital's central lab for analysis or tested by the respiratory therapist on the unit's blood gas analyzer
  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Sampling

    • Arterial samples are the best for diagnostic reasons, but they do provide some challenges for nurses and providers
    • The main issue is if the patient does not have a functioning arterial line, a frontline clinician has to draw the arterial sample
    • Some hospitals allow specially trained nurses to perform this skill but only after an intense training program
    • If a provider is not available to perform the arterial stick, treatment could be delayed
  • Components of an ABG
    • pH
    • Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)
    • Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2)
    • Bicarbonate (HCO3)
    • Oxygen saturation (O2 Sat)
    • Hemoglobin
  • pH

    Measures the balance of acids and bases in your blood
  • Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)

    Measures the pressure of oxygen dissolved in your blood
  • Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2)
    Measures the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood and how well carbon dioxide can move out of your body
  • Bicarbonate (HCO3)

    Calculated using the measured values of pH and PaCO2 to determine the amount of the basic compound made from carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Oxygen saturation (O2 Sat)

    Measures how much hemoglobin in your blood is carrying oxygen
  • Hemoglobin

    Measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood
  • Typical normal values for ABG components:
  • How to Interpret an ABG
    1. Look at the pH to determine if the patient is in the normal range, above, or below
    2. If pH > 7.45, the patient is in alkalosis
    3. If pH < 7.35, the patient is in acidosis
    4. Examine the PaCO2 to determine if the changes in the blood gas are due to the respiratory system or metabolically driven
    5. Use the HCO3 in combination with the PaCO2 to fully comprehend the blood gas and determine the cause and degree of compensation
  • Common causes of ABG disorders
    • Respiratory acidosis: Chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD)
    • Respiratory alkalosis: Pneumonia and hyperventilation disorder
    • Metabolic alkalosis: Vomiting and Bicarbonate usage
    • Metabolic acidosis: DUMPILES (Diabetic ketoacidosis, Uremia, Methanol toxicity, Paraldehyde Toxicity, Iron Toxicity, Lactic acidosis, Ethanol Toxicity, Salicylates Toxicity)
  • Anion gap

    Quantity of anions not balanced by cations, usually due to 'Negatively Charged Plasma Proteins' as the charges of the other unmeasured cations and anions tend to balance out
  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
    A blood test that measures the acidity, or pH, and the levels of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from an artery
  • Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
    • Used to check the function of the patient's lungs and how well they are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide
    • One of the most commonly used tests to measure oxygenation and blood acid levels, two important measures of a patient's clinical status
    • Commonly performed in the ICU and ER setting
  • How to Draw an ABG
    1. Collect a small sample of blood (generally, a full 1 ml³ is preferred)
    2. Blood can be drawn via an arterial stick from the wrist, groin, or above the elbow
    3. The radial artery on the wrist is most commonly used to obtain the sample
    4. The sample is either sent to the hospital's central lab for analysis or tested by the respiratory therapist on the unit's blood gas analyzer
  • Arterial Blood Sample

    • Provides challenges for nurses and providers if the patient does not have a functioning arterial line
    • Some hospitals allow specially trained nurses to perform this skill but only after an intense training program
    • If a provider is not available to perform the arterial stick, treatment could be delayed
  • Components of an ABG
    • pH
    • Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)
    • Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2)
    • Bicarbonate (HCO3)
    • Oxygen saturation (O2 Sat)
    • Hemoglobin
  • pH
    Measures the balance of acids and bases in your blood
  • Partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)

    Measures the pressure of oxygen dissolved in your blood
  • Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2)
    Measures the amount of carbon dioxide in your blood and how well carbon dioxide can move out of your body
  • Bicarbonate (HCO3)

    Calculated using the measured values of pH and PaCO2 to determine the amount of the basic compound made from carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Oxygen saturation (O2 Sat)

    Measures how much hemoglobin in your blood is carrying oxygen
  • Hemoglobin

    Measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood
  • Typical normal values for ABG components:
  • How to Interpret an ABG
    1. Look at the pH to determine if the patient is in the normal range, above, or below
    2. If pH > 7.45, the patient is in alkalosis. If pH < 7.35, the patient is in acidosis
    3. Examine the PaCO2 to determine if the changes in the blood gas are due to the respiratory system or metabolically driven
    4. Use the HCO3 in combination with the PaCO2 to fully comprehend the blood gas and determine the cause and degree of compensation
  • Possible risks associated with drawing an ABG

    • Arteriospasm
    • Hematoma
    • Nerve damage
    • Fainting
    • Vasovagal response
    • Sweating
    • Pallor
    • Drop in blood pressure
    • Bleeding at the site
  • Common causes of ABG disorders

    • Respiratory acidosis: Chronic obstructive lung disease COPD
    • Respiratory alkalosis: Pneumonia and hyperventilation disorder
    • Metabolic alkalosis: vomiting and Bicarbonate usage
    • Metabolic acidosis: DUMPILES (Diabetic ketoacidosis, Uremia, Methanol toxicity, Paraldehyde Toxicity, Iron Toxicity, Lactic acidosis, Ethanol Toxicity, Salicylates Toxicity)
  • Anion gap

    Quantity of anions not balanced by cations, usually due to 'Negatively Charged Plasma Proteins' as the charges of the other unmeasured cations and anions tend to balance out