- Scenario one – next steps
A colleague hands you the patient’s ABG results. What do you do next? You decide to use the 5-step approach to analyse her ABG results. Roll over the image to enlarge it.
Step 1: You should ask how the patient is.
- Her reduced level of consciousness may impair oxygenation and ventilation. If this is the case, she may be hypoxic with an increased PaCO2 causing a respiratory acidosis
- There is unlikely to be much compensation (change in bicarbonate) because of the acuteness of the situation
You should then review at the ABG results. Take a look at them carefully. Roll over the ABG results to enlarge them.
You can find the 5-step approach in the Essentials tab if you need a reminder.
Select Next to continue.References
See chapter 15 of the ALS manual for further reading about arterial blood gas analysis.
Essentials: 5-step approach to ABG interpretation
Step 1 – how is the patient?
Step 2 – is the patient hypoxaemic?
Step 3 – is the patient acidaemic or alkalaemic?
Step 4 – what happened to the PaCO2?
Step 5 – what has happened to the base excess or bicarbonate?
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