However, the more complicated and in some ways more important part of abg analysis is ph regulation. Jan 26, 2015 arterial blood gases abgs are an important routine investigation to monitor the acidbase balance of patients. This task is performed by the kidneys and the lungs. We might intubate when the patient is breathing more than 35 breaths a minute, when the ph is acidic below 7. Acid base disorders acidbase homeostasis is fundamental for maintaining life the hydrogenion concentration is tightly regulated because changes in hydrogen ions alter virtually all protein and membrane functions. When is arterial blood gases abgs testing indicated. Without this understanding, the nurse cannot be expected to realize the implication of the results. Arterial blood gasses, or abgs, may be among the most complex and confusing parts of nursing practice. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to remember how to decipher these important lab results. Facp, frcpc, fccp, fccm, faha director pulmonary vascular program confidential1 dos cme course 2011oxtober 2010 director, pulmonary vascular program.
Results show blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, ph levels. Pulmonary function tests pfts are a series of different breathing tests led by a. This bestselling companion to wests respiratory physiology, tenth edition, has served generations of students. If copd is suspected or confirmed, your healthcare provider may order other tests, such as.
Guideline pellegrino r, viegi g, brusasco v, crapo ro, burgos f, casaburi r, et al. Understanding pulmonary function testing big fat reference guide. Alterations in normal breathing and kidney function can dramatically affect the ability of the body to. The best way to interpret your blood results is by talking to your doctor. Pocket tutor understanding abgs and lung function tests pdf. Blood gases are a group of tests that are performed together to measure the ph and the amount of oxygen o 2 and carbon dioxide co 2 present in a sample of blood, usually from an artery, in order to evaluate lung function and help detect an acidbase imbalance that could indicate a respiratory, metabolic or kidney disorder a persons body carefully regulates blood ph, maintaining it. Nov 22, 2012 abg for dummies abg, arterial blood gases, emergency, job, nurses working in emergency department require you to capable do most of the procedure include reading arterial blood gases value. Pulmonary interpretation of abgs and pfts study guide by eclareee includes 29 questions covering vocabulary, terms and more. Pulmonary function tests is a generic term used to indicate a battery of studies. They may help make a diagnosis, indicate the severity of a condition and help to assess treatment. However, the understanding of abgs and their interpretation can sometimes be very confusing and also an arduous task. Pulmonary interpretation of abgs and pfts flashcards. Your blood cells need oxygen to grow and stay healthy. It is also useful to have access to any previous gases.
Abg interpretation a guide to understanding abgs geeky medics. The tests measure lung function by measuring the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in a persons blood. Although all of the data in an abg analysis can be useful, it is possible to accurately interpret the results without considering all of the values. Knowing the different normal lab values is an important step in making an informed clinical decision as a nurse. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation for medical students. A blood gas test is also called an arterial blood gas test or a blood gas analysis. First, we need to lay the foundation and talk about what three lab values you need to look at when trying to figure out abgs, how to determine if that value is consider normal, an acid, or basic alkalotic, and what fancy terms are used once the abg is figured out. Steps in abg analysis using the tictactoe method 1.
Complete book available in pdf format 1e ashok garg 9788180618994 mastering the techniques of lasik, epilasik and lasek techniques and technology. Many authors contend that drawing of umbilical abgs is a simple method to evaluate the condition of the neonate and ideally would be routinely done for all newborns. Oct 12, 2005 hello, im new to the world of itu nursing, in fact ive just finished my 5th shift and am really struggling with understanding abgs. Interpreting an arterial blood gas abg is a crucial skill for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other health care personnel. The test is used to check the function of the patients lungs and how well they are able to move oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. Understanding spirometry normal, obstructive vs restrictive. It also measures your bodys acidbase ph level, which is. Arterial blood gas abg interpretation is something many medical students find difficult to grasp weve been there. Interpretation of common lunginterpretation of common. Understanding abg reports 01 may, 2008 this is the first of a twopart unit on arterial blood gas abg analysis, and focuses on background information and basic interpretation of abgs where no evident compensation is taking place. Pocket tutor understanding abgs and lung function tests crc press book titles in the pocket tutor series give practical guidance on subjects that medical students and foundation doctors need help with on the go, at a highlyaffordable price that puts them within reach of those rotating through modular courses or working on attachment. We need to consider the numerical results of the blood gas in relation to previous blood gases and take in to account the patients history. Arterial blood gases abgs are an important routine investigation to monitor the acidbase balance of patients. When the ph is normal, it will be fully compensated.
Pocket tutor understanding abgs and lung function tests link. Abg interpretation is especially important in critically ill patients. Easy way to interpret abg values in 7 simple steps step 1. The interpretation of pulmonary functions tests requires knowledge of respiratory physiology. Abg interpretation a guide to understanding abgs geeky. Measure the effect of chronic diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive lung disease copd, or cystic fibrosis on lung function. Detect pulmonary disease assess severity or progression of disease. The spirometer was invented in 1842 by an english surgeon named jonathan hutchinson who noted that the air which was exhaled from a fully inflated lung was a powerful indicator of longevity.
Agasti text book of anesthesia for post graduates 22 ronald d. This will be the only video you will need to interpret your abgs. Pocket tutor series pocket tutor series pocket tutor clinical examination 2014 link. For both formats the functionality available will depend on how you access the ebook via.
Lab tests are used to help confirm a diagnosis, monitor an illness, and the patients response to treatment. One extremely useful blood test is the arterial blood gas. Abgs are likely the most commonly used blood gas and are frequently used when assessing someones respiratory status. Fourstep method of interpreting arterial blood gas analysis. It also measures your bodys acidbase ph level, which is usually in balance when youre healthy. Spirometry is a very common test to help you and your doctor understand your. An arterial blood gas, or abg for short, is a test that measures the blood levels of oxygen pao2, carbon dioxide paco2, and acidbase balance ph in the body. How to read a venous blood gas vbg top 5 tips acadoodle. Changes in oxygenation and acidbase balance are key to understanding the acuity and progression of.
The atsers task force on lung function testing recently proposed guidelines for the interpretation of pulmonary function tests and suggested that a reduction in fev1 be used for categorizing. May 06, 2015 abgs tic tac toe method for nurses with quiz. I was wondering if you could explain it to me in your spare time. Determine if ph is under normal, acidosis, or alkalosis. Pulmonary function tests pfts are used to assess various aspects of your lung function. Welcome to medical literature and universities password free science for all,, where you can find all what you need of articles,research, ebooks, ee library passwords, ezproxy databases, ovid, hinari, springer, jstor, nejm, accessscience, sage, ieee, sciencedirect, proquest jstor, access library electronic resources,websites passwords, discussions and much morejoin us. Interpreting an arterial blood gas abg is a crucial skill for physicians, nurses, respiratory. An abg is a blood test that measures the acidity, or ph, and the levels of oxygen o2 and carbon dioxide co2 from an artery. This test is commonly performed in the icu and er setting. Arterial blood gases indications and interpretation. Pulmonary function tests pfts asthma initiative of michigan aim.
However, most asthmatic children have lung function values in the normal range independent of disease severity 4 5 6, and there exists a lack of correlation between fev 1 measures and. Screening there are no blood tests that can be used to screen for or detect lung cancer. Apr 05, 2019 arterial blood gases abgs provide a wealth of information for the differential diagnosis of many respiratory and metabolic diseases, but how can nurses use this information as part of the physical assessment and reporting of key events. Since both areas manifest sudden and lifethreatening changes in all the systems concerned, a thorough understanding of acidbase balance is mandatory for any physician, and the anesthesiologist is no exception. Dec 06, 2017 you are watching an educational video about interpreting abgs. Interpretation of common lunginterpretation of common lung function tests raed a. Oct 26, 2014 interpretation of abgs and spirometry presenter dr. This method is simple, easy and can be used for the majority of abgs. An arterial blood gas abg test measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood. The essentials offers accessible explanations of disease processes that affect the respiratory system. Both systems are primarily concerned with keeping blood ph in the normal range. Pulmonary function tests pfts are a group of tests that measure how well your lungs work. Abgs made easy for nurses w tic tac toe method for arterial. Interpretation of arterial blood gases abgs david a.
Understanding abgs and spirometry linkedin slideshare. Even for the respiratory system, ph rather than oxygen is the priority. Its a test that is used to assess how well oxygen is being distributed throughout the body and how well carbon dioxide is being removed. Apr 03, 2020 an abg is a blood test that measures the acidity, or ph, and the levels of oxygen o2 and carbon dioxide co2 from an artery. Adult students demonstrate various methods of learning to enhance their knowledge base. Appropriate general principles guide clinicians when drawing and interpreting abgs for all patients.
Interpretation of arterial blood gas pubmed central pmc. The goals with testing for lung cancer are to detect it as soon as possible, determine the specific type and how far it has spread, help guide treatment, and evaluate a persons general state of health and lung function. Understanding arterial blood gases abgs nysna continuing. Before we jump into numbers and attempt to interpret an abg, lets take some time to understand the. Pocket tutor understanding abgs and lung function tests pdf free download preface. Chest xray to look for lung changes that could be caused by copd pulse oximetry to measure the oxygen level of blood using a probe on. They are also an important reflection of overall pulmonary function and can help with acidbase interpretation. Diagnostic and laboratory tests are tools that provide invaluable insights and information about the patient. This brochure is intended to help you understand the meaning of pulmonary. Lung function tests are a group of tests that check to see if your lungs are.
Roger seheult of is video 1 of 5 on pulmonary function testing. These noninvasive testsspirometry, the lung diffusion test, and lung plethysmographyare used to help diagnose lung diseases like copd, as well as to determine how treatment is working and if such a condition is progressing. The lung function blood tests are used to show if a person has this kind of lung damage, and if so, how much damage there is. This video tutorial is on how to setup arterial blood gas problems using the tic tac toe method. Understanding arterial blood gases nursing case studies. Pfts will confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity. Your doctor may run a blood gas analysis or arterial blood gas abg test if you are showing the signs of an oxygen, carbon dioxide, or ph imbalance such as confusion or difficulty breathing. For the body to function normally, the internal ph environment needs to regulated and maintained at a constant. So looking at blood gases means looking at absolute values and patterns. Understand pulmonary function tests pfts with this clear explanation from dr.
Arterial blood gas abg interpretation for medical students, osces and mrcp paces this section presents how to interpret arterial blood gases. Titles in the pocket tutor series give practical guidance on subjects that medical students and foundation doctors need help with on the go, at a highly affordable price that puts them within reach of those rotating through modular courses or working on attachment. Sep 03, 2014 6 thoughts on abgs part 2 compensation raeanna january 15, 2015 at 7. If one system is disturbed, the other tries to restore balance. Blood gases are a group of tests that are performed together to measure the ph and the amount of oxygen o 2 and carbon dioxide co 2 present in a sample of blood, usually from an artery, in order to evaluate lung function and help detect an acidbase imbalance that could indicate a respiratory, metabolic or kidney disorder. In this guide, we will teach you the eight 8 steps on how to interpret and analyze arterial blood gas abg results using the tictactoe method.
However, abgs can offer more than just information on the respiratory system they also indicate how well a patients kidneys and other internal organs the metabolic system are functioning. Apr 20, 2020 arterial blood gasses, or abgs, may be among the most complex and confusing parts of nursing practice. The real value of an abg comes from its ability to provide a. Hey, quick question i was practicing abgs with the new knowledge i found here. Pocket tutor understanding abgs and lung function tests. Cline tintinallis emergency medicine manual 20 david m. Without knowing them, your patient could easily go. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology associated with a patients condition and how it relates. Changes in oxygenation and acidbase balance are key to understanding the acuity and progression of illnesses such as respiratory failure, sepsis, liver and renal failure, burns and other acute and chronic conditions. Spirometry is the most effective way of determining the severity of copd.
Pfts are also known as spirometry or lung function tests. Spirometry method of assessing lung function by measuring the volume of air that the patient is able to expel from the lungs after a maximal inspiration. The alphabetically arranged entries, each of which provides a detailed description of a specific pathological disease pattern, allow readers to quickly and easily find the information they need. Weve created this guide, which aims to provide a structured approach to abg interpretation whilst also increasing your understanding of each results relevance. Pulmonary function tests american thoracic society. See more ideas about nursing students, nursing notes and nursing tips. Although there is an additional receptor the hypoxic centre in the brain stem that monitors p a o 2, it spends most of it time asleep and is rather unconcerned about minor fluctuations in the level. Lung function tests, also known as pulmonary function tests, or pfts, are a group of tests that check to see if your lungs are working right. Compare your lung function with known standards that show how well your lungs should be working. There are a number of tests that can help to identify acidbase status. Interpreting abgs arterial blood gases made easy ausmed. Determine if paco 2 is under normal, acidosis, or alkalosis.
It only addresses acidbase balance and considers just 3 values. When one thinks of abg analysis, oxygenation may come to mind first. They understand the information and results better than anyone. Easy way on how to interpret arterial blood gases abgs with tic tac toe. This is particularly important if your patient is known to have chronic respiratory disease with existing chronic abg changes.
All india institute of medical sciencesaiims, jodhpur. First we have ph, this specifically stands for partial pressure of hydrogen and its an indicator of the acidity or alkalinity of the blood. This tictactoe technique involves a few charts to help you visualize abgs. Can anyone help explain what it all means, please keep it simple. Understanding arterial blood gases abgs nysna continuing education the new york state nurses association is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by. How well the lungs move oxygen into your bloodstream.
Understanding the significance of the findings for arterial blood gases abg is the first step in the interpretation of them. Luks, presents the vital knowledge you need in a concise, straightforward manner. Making an assessment on your own can lead to misdiagnosis or complications from selftreatment. Lung function tests including spirometry information myvmc. Pocket tutor understanding abgs and lung function tests by munhunthan thillai, peter bailey, keith hattotuwa. Blood gas interpretation in the neonate what do you need to. Learn more about laboratory tests, references ranges, and understanding results. Pulmonary function tests pfts are an important tool in the investigation and monitoring of patients with respiratory pathology. There are two main types of blood tests for copd patients, or people who might have copd. The spirometer measures how much air you can breathe into.
They provide valuable information about the type of pulmonary deficits and can be used to monitor a variety of different respiratory tract disorders. Once youve mastered this technique, youll be doing actual abg interpretation. Good news is that you wont really be making that decision. Identify early changes in lung function that might show a need for a change in. It is a reliable method of differentiating between obstructive airways disorders and restrictive diseases. Abgs can show how well your lungs are getting oxygen into your blood and carbon dioxide out of your blood. Everyone can read an electrolyte level, but when faced with a list of abgs, most nurses wilt. The following sixstep process helps ensure a complete interpretation of every abg.
Arterial blood gas analysis can be used to assess gas exchange and acid base status as well as to provide immediate information about electrolytes. It explains each component in turn followed by clinical examples to work through. Interpretation of common lung interpretation of common lung. The lung function tests are all pretty simple to perform although measurement of lung volumes and gas transfer requires specialised and sophisticated equipment. Tic tac toe method arterial blood gas abg interpretation. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology associated with a patients condition and how it. In health, we are driven to take our next breath by the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide p a co 2, which is intimately linked to ph. Hyponatremia, liver function tests, internal medicine, pulmonary.
413 689 1450 1342 742 81 1278 1275 377 104 769 82 57 877 153 68 145 617 1306 1464 895 743 1126 409 1159 1473 502 622 1361 706 86 1272 11 428 772 1031 700 168 506 810 1324 1171 213