Abstract

Dr. Rajini Samuel*

ABSTRACT

Arterial blood gas analyser is one of the most important point of care testing in intensive care unit for the management of critically ill patients. The understanding of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis and interpretation is challenging and at times an arduous task. The graphical representation will serve as a supporting tool for teaching purposes especially for nursing students, critical care nurses and junior doctors but only few research studies are available for the same. The parameters like pH, pCO2, bicarbonate and Standard base excess are routinely utilized for interpretation but standard bicarbonate is not commonly utilized and some researchers consider it as an obsolete parameter. The understanding of non-respiratory hydrogen ion concentration plays an essential part in arterial blood gas interpretation, but often it is not discussed in detail due to non-availability of its relationship with other ABG parameters. In a recently published research study, calculation of Non-respiratory hydrogen ion concentration from standard bicarbonate, its relationship with other commonly utilized ABG parameters and its clinical application were discussed with the postulates of the acid-base balance theory. The current research study is the extension of previously published work. The aim of the present study is to increase in depth the understanding of ABG interpretation by graphical representation using the metabolic and respiratory components involved in changing pH. The parameters derived from standard bicarbonate namely non-respiratory and predicted respiratory pH plays a vital role in understanding of acid-base disturbances.