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An arterial blood gas (ABG) test, or arterial blood gas analysis (ABGA) measures the amounts of arterial gases, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide.An ABG test requires that a small volume of blood be drawn from the radial artery with a syringe and a thin needle, [1] but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or another site is used.
A blood gas test or blood gas analysis tests blood to measure blood gas tension values, it also measures blood pH, and the level and base excess of bicarbonate.The source of the blood is reflected in the name of each test; arterial blood gases come from arteries, venous blood gases come from veins and capillary blood gases come from capillaries. [1]
Blood gas tension refers to the partial pressure of gases in blood. [1] There are several significant purposes for measuring gas tension. [ 2 ] The most common gas tensions measured are oxygen tension (P x O 2 ), carbon dioxide tension (P x CO 2 ) and carbon monoxide tension (P x CO). [ 3 ]
It is performed by measuring the arterial blood gases of the patient while they breathe room air, then re-measuring the blood gases after the patient has breathed 100% oxygen for 10 minutes. [1]:141 [2]:141 [3]
In the arterial system, bubbles (arterial gas embolism) are far more dangerous because they block circulation and cause infarction (tissue death, due to local loss of blood flow). In the brain, infarction results in stroke , and in the spinal cord it may result in paralysis .
Diagnoses can be done by doing an ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) laboratory study, with a pH <7.35 and a PaCO2 >45 mmHg in an acute setting. Patients with COPD and other Chronic respiratory diseases will sometimes display higher level of PaCO2 with HCO3- >30 and normal pH. [citation needed] [2]
In addition to arterial blood gas, an anion gap can also differentiate between possible causes. The Henderson-Hasselbalch equation is useful for calculating blood pH, because blood is a buffer solution. In the clinical setting, this equation is usually used to calculate HCO 3 from measurements of pH and PaCO2 in arterial blood gases. The amount ...
Normal arterial blood oxygen saturation levels in humans are 96–100 percent. [1] If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low and called hypoxemia . [ 2 ] Arterial blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may compromise organ function, such as the brain and heart, and should be promptly addressed.