Blood Test : Arterial Blood Gases

This special test requires arterial blood (oxygenated). In the arterial blood gases test, a blood specimen is generally taken from the wrist or arm in a manner similar to a routine venipuncture. The arterial blood gas test will indicate the acid/base balance of the body, oxygen content of the blood, and assess the effectiveness of the patient's breathing. Using this information, the physician can make important therapeutic decisions (i.e. does the patient need oxygen? Will the patient require assisted mechanical ventilation?). These important questions can only be answered with the results of this valuable test. Arterial blood gases are commonly performed in patients with:

1. CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (low p02)

2. PULMONARY EMBOLISM (low pO2)

3. ASTHMA (low p02, low pH, and high pC02)

4. CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (smokers) (low p02 and high pC02)

5. PNEUMONIA (low p02)

6. DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS (low pH and low pC02)

7. UNEXPLAINED BREATHING DIFFICULTY

NORMAL VALUES

Partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) 80-100 mm Hg

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pC02) 35-45 mm Hg

pH 7.38-7.44

02 saturation 95-100%

Bicarbonate 22-25 meq/l

- EXAMPLES -

If you stop or severely slow your breathing: pH will go down, pC02 will increase, and p02 will decrease.

If you hyperventilate: pH will increase, p02 will increase, and pC02 will decrease.

MEDICAL TESTS

Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal X-Ray
Allergy Testing
Amniocentesis
Amylase Blood Test
Angiodynography
Angiogram
Arterial Blood Gases
Arthrocentesis
Arthrogram
Barium Enema
Blood Chemistry
Blood Coagulation Test
Blood Cultures
Blood Glucose Test
Blood Test Smac 25
Bone Marrow Biopsy Aspiration
Cardiac Catheterization Angioplasty
Cardiac Enzymes
Cholesterol Blood Test
Complete Blood Count
CT Scanning Back
CT Scanning Chest Abdomen
Drug Levels
Glucose Tolerance Test
Hepatitis Blood Test
HIV Blood Test
Kidney Biopsy
Kidney Blood Test
Lipoproteins
Liver Biopsy
Liver Blood Test
Lymph Node Biopsy
Mononucleosis Test
Paracentesis
Peritoneal Lavage
Pregnancy Blood Test
Prostate Specific Antigen
Skin Biopsy
Spine X-Rays
Thyroid Biopsy
Thyroid Blood Test
Toxicology