MEASUREMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF ARTERIAL BLOOD-GASES

Arterial brood gases and pH are routinely being measured in clinical p ractice, both to provide diagnosis and to guide therapy in critically ill patients. Oximetry is clinically useful in establishing the presen ce of hypoxaemia in patients with respiratory diseases. Oximetry is al so a simple and reliable method for monitoring patients undergoing ana esthesia, sleep studies and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The sear ch continues for new innovative techniques for continuous transcutaneo us and intra-arterial blood gas monitoring, This is essential in the m anagement of critically ill patients because blood analysers provide o nly intermittent monitoring of arterial blood gases.