Arterial blood gas

Abstract

Arterial blood gas consists of obtaining a blood sample, by puncture of an artery, to analyse the values of gases in the blood after pulmonary exchange. It also allows assessing the acid-base balance of the patient, and also current analyzers get values of hemoglobin and hematocrit, blood sugar, sodium, potassium and lactic acid, among others. It is the fastest, most effective and reliable test to assess the exchange of gases and the acid-base balance of the patient. Its main indication is the diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of the treatment of respiratory failure. The selected artery will be in order of preference the radial, humeral, pedia and femoral. In newborns the umbilical artery is used and in babies the epicranial ones. The humeral puncture is less painful and presents fewer complications (hematomas, spasm of the artery, inflammation of the area and residual pain) than the radial puncture.