Category: Medical Surgical Nursing

ABG’s: What about them?

Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis and interpretation can give you a view about a patient’s oxygenation, acid-base balance, pulmonary function, and metabolic status as by interpreting such, you may be able to assess and monitor critically ill patients in the clinical area, especially in the ICU and other critical care settings.

Usually, ABG’s are ordered for patients with the following cases: Respiratory compromise, which may then lead to hypoxia or diminished ventilation, those with Peri/postcardiopulmonary arrest or collapse; patients with medical conditions that cause significant metabolic derangement (sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis, renal failure, heart failure, toxic substance ingestion, drug overdose, trauma, or burns); to evaluate the efficiency of therapies, and monitor the patient’s clinical status, as well as to determine treatment needs of the patient. An example of this scenario is a physician, titrating oxygenation therapy such as adjusting the level of ventilator support (FiO2, BUR, TV and PF), and make decisions about fluid and electrolyte therapy basing on ABG results. ABGs may also be indicated during the perioperative phase of major surgeries (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of the patient).