Today our topic of discussion is Procedure of Arterial Blood Gas Analysis .
Procedure of Arterial Blood Gas Analysis
Procedure
- Arterial blood sample of 5 ml. is obtained via an arterial puncture or arterial line
- The radial or femoral artery is usually used in adults,whereas the temporal artery is used in infants
- The procedure is usually performed by a physician or respiratory therapist or nurses in specialized units may perform arterial puncture .
- If the radial artery is used, the wrist is hyperextended and the arm is externally rotated
- Palpate the artery for the point of maximal impulse.
- Cleanse the site with an alcohol swab
- The needle is inserted at a 45-90° angle at the point of maximal pulsation.
- Observe the syringe; the plunger will move upward under arterial pressure
- Withdraw the needle and cork the syringe with airtight rubber support
- Roll the syringe between your palms to mix the blood with the heparin.
- Label the syringe and place it on ice
- Send the specimen to the laboratory immediately with a requestation slip marked with the client’s temperature. the FIO, value and the time
- Care of the continuous intra-arterial blood similar to care of any arterial line. gas line is similar vto care any arterial line.
Post-procedural Care
- Immediately after the needle is withdraw, exert pressure on the arterial site for a minimum of 5 minutes
- if the client is taking anticoagulants, pressure on the site should be maintained for at least 10 minutes.
Interpretation of ABG
Results can be interpreted by looking at each component in turn to build up a complete picture. All ABG should be interpreted with the patient’s physical condition. Doubt about the accuracy should be considered if the result does not fit the clinical picture.
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