Arterial Blood Gases
Alternate Names : ABG, Arterial Blood GAS
What do the test results mean?
There are several values that are measured in an ABG.
Each of the values has a set range that is considered to be within
healthy limits. If any
of the main values becomes severely abnormal, the person may die.
pH Level
The pH is one of the main parts of this test. This is a
measure of the level of acid in the blood. Acid levels may be too high with:
kidney failure or damage
certain cases of uncontrolled diabetes
exposure to certain toxic substances, such as a drug overdose
shock, which may occur from heart failure, serious infections, or
massive blood or fluid loss
breathing troubles, such as lung infections,
asthma,
emphysema,
or not breathing fast enough
certain medicines
Acid levels may be too low from:
dehydration
certain types of kidney problems
breathing too fast, such as when a person has a
panic disorder
excessive vomiting
salt imbalances,
which may result from a hormone problem in the body
certain medicines
If the pH is abnormal, the other parts of the test can help
find out the reason. For example, if the acid level in the body is too
high, it could be from breathing or metabolism problems. It is crucial
to know what is causing the high acid level so that the best treatment can
be chosen. If the acid level is too high because of a breathing
problem, the person may need extra oxygen or even a ventilator.
If the acid level is too high from metabolism problems, a person
may need to be hooked up to a blood-filtering machine or may need
antibiotics or other medicines.
Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Levels
Other parts of the test are the oxygen and
carbon dioxide levels in the blood. The job of the lungs is to take
in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. If some type of breathing
or respiratory problem is present, these values will be abnormal.
The oxygen level can also be used to check if a person is getting
enough oxygen or whether they need extra oxygen.
Bicarbonate Level
The part of the test that measures the bicarbonate level
in the blood will determine whether there is a metabolism problem.
Other minor parts of the test may be
monitored by a doctor in certain situations.
The doctor must look at the pH, breathing, and metabolic
parts of the test as a whole. This allows the doctor to sort out different
problems in a person's body.
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