Using Blood Gases Dr. Jonathan R. Goodall M62 Coloproctology Meeting 2 nd April 2004
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Teaching Grandma to suck eggs…
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 Introduction The necessary basics Clinical examples of ABG use in ICU Newer considerations in interpretation of acid-base disturbances
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 The Basics - Normal Values pH H nmol.l -1 pCO kPa pO kPa Actual HCO mmol.l -1 Standard HCO mmol.l -1 Base Excess +/- 2.0 SaO 2 ≥ 95 %
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 The Basics - Interpretation Oxygenation PaO 2 ? SaO 2 + Hb more important Interpret only with knowledge of FiO 2
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 The Basics - Interpretation Acid-Base Status pH pCO 2 HCO 3 (actual or standard) Base Excess Oxygenation PaO 2 SaO 2 + Hb more important? Interpret only with knowledge of FiO 2
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 H 2 O + CO 2 H 2 CO 3 H + + HCO 3 -
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 H 2 O + CO 2 H 2 CO 3 H + + HCO 3 -
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 The Basics - Standard Bicarbonate The amount of bicarbonate that would be present if: PCO2 was 5.3 kPa Temp 37°C Blood fully oxygenated At sea level
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 The Basics - Base Excess (Deficit) The amount of base that needs to be added to or subtracted from each litre of blood (ecf) to return the pH to a value of 7.4 at: pCO2 5.3 kPa Temp 37°C
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Ivor Lewis Oesophagectomy 54 year old lady No significant PMH 7 hour procedure Initial post op period stable
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Date17/318/3 19/3 Time22:3008:0019:3010:45 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 Date17/318/3 19/3 Time22:3008:0019:3010:45 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 Date17/318/3 19/3 Time22:3008:0019:3010:45 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 Date17/318/3 19/3 Time22:3008:0019:3010:45 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Date21/322/323/3 Time11:0019:4008:00 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Cellulitis (?) 75 year old lady Established atrial flutter Admitted with spreading cellulitis right calf Hypotension unresponsive to fluids (and dobutamine!)
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Initial ABGs Date31/3 Time02:1504:4008:50 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Date31/3 Time02:1504:4008:50 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 Date31/3 Time02:1504:4008:50 FiO pH pCO pO BE
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004
Hyperchloraemic acidosis Base deficit traditionally used as marker for metabolic acidosis Appropriate fluid resuscitation should decrease base deficit Chloride rich solutions (0.9% NaCl) can potentiate metabolic acidosis If base deficit persists despite ‘adequate’ fluids in an otherwise well patient, check [Cl - ]!
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004 Summary Arterial blood gases can be used to guide therapy Must be interpreted in the light of the clinical setting Look at acid–base disturbances, then oygenation with FiO 2 Remember the possibility that treatment may cause problems!
JRG Hope Hospital April 2004