Interpreting arterial blood gas results
Abstract
#### Learning points You have been called to see a 69 year old man on a surgical ward because he has become drowsy and short of breath. He had a large bowel resection the previous day, has a background of type 2 diabetes, and is a current smoker. On examination his arterial blood pressure is 104/65 mm Hg, his heart rate 132 beats/min and irregular, and his respiratory rate 22 breaths/min; his oxygen saturations with pulse oximetry are 94% on supplemental oxygen via a 40% Venturi-type mask. He is slightly confused and is complaining of abdominal pain despite using patient controlled analgesia with morphine. His chest is clear on auscultation. You take a blood specimen for analysis of arterial blood gases for rapid biochemical evaluation to guide diagnosis and initial management. Table 1⇓ shows the results. It is important to adopt a systematic approach to interpreting results of arterial blood gases, as outlined in table 2⇓, preceded by a brief history and focused clinical examination. View this table: Table 1 Report of arterial blood gases for the hypothetical patient described View this table: Table 2 Guide to systematic approach to analysis of a report of arterial blood gases ### Step 1: Assess oxygenation Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) is the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood. The main determinants of PaO2 are the inspired …
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Most pCO2 measurements remained within the normal range (35-45 mmHg).
“Overall, most pCO2 measurements remained within the normal range (35–45 mmHg) (13–15).”
From Lab values in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy over time during and after therapeutic hypothermia (2026) · cites this paper as [14]
By T6, most infants had reached a pH of 7.40, with a subset exceeding this threshold and becoming alkalotic (pH > 7.40).
“By T6, most infants had reached a pH of 7.40, with a subset exceeding this threshold and becoming alkalotic (pH > 7.40) (13–15).”
From Lab values in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy over time during and after therapeutic hypothermia (2026) · cites this paper as [14]
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Turan, E. İ., Baydemir, A. E., Balıtatlı, A. B., & Şahin, A. S. (2025) · Journal of Clinical Anesthesia · doi:10.1016/j.jclinane.2025.111787 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Elias, M., Bliznyuk, N., Yasova Barbeau, D., Sukumar, S., Carlos Roig, J., Rajderkar, D., Sura, L., Wynn, J. L., & Weiss, M. D. (2026) · Frontiers in pediatrics · doi:10.3389/fped.2026.1743749
- Authors
- Cowley, N. J., Owen, A., & Bion, J. F.
- Affiliations
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Cowley, N. J.
- ORCID
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2013-01-16
- Volume
- 346
- Issue
- jan16 1
- Pages
- f16-f16
- ISSN
- 1756-1833 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1983327706
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 1.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (ACF-2011-09-004)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Nephrology › Renal function and acid-base balance
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
- Keywords
- arterial blood gas interpretation, PaO2, oxygenation assessment, acid-base balance, respiratory acidosis, respiratory alkalosis, hypoventilation, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, postoperative complications, bowel resection, type 2 diabetes, sleepiness, dyspnea
- MeSH terms
- Arteries, Bicarbonates, Blood Gas Analysis, Carbon Dioxide, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Oxygen, Reproducibility of Results, Biomarkers
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