The usefulness of peripheral venous blood in estimating acid-base status in acutely III patients

Paul R. Gennis, Mary Louise Skovron, Susan T. Aronson, E. John Gallagher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

The usefulness of peripheral venous sampling in determining acid-base status in acutely ill patients was studied. A total of 171 nonarrest patients and 12 patients in cardiac arrest had paired samples of arterial and venous blood compared for correlation of blood gas results. Linear equations relating arterial and venous values of pH, PCO2, and bicarbonate were developed in both groups of patients; however, the accuracy of predicting arterial values from venous values was limited. Severe acid-base disturbances were essentially ruled out by normal or nearly normal venous blood gases. Extremely abnormal venous levels reliably reflected comparable arterial abnormalities. The results suggest that immediate intravenous bicarbonate therapy should be considered for patients with pH ≤ 7.05 and PCO2 ≤ 40 torr despite the possibility of inadvertent venous sampling. A larger series is needed to verify these results in the setting of cardiac arrest.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)845-849
Number of pages5
JournalAnnals of emergency medicine
Volume14
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1985

Keywords

  • acid base, use of peripheral venous blood in estimating

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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