Advanced Blood Gas Analysis

Course overview

This course emphasizes the importance of the relationship between Arterial Blood Gas -ABG- and the abnormal physiologic process underlying cardiopulmonary dysfunction. The course will demonstrate how to perform ABG calculations and interpret the clinical significance of the results. Case studies will be presented for application of these skills. Purpose Statement: To provide a learning experience for students to perform Arterial Blood Gas calculations, interpret the clinical significance of the results and recommend an appropriate course of action. Learning Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: Relate arterial blood gas results to the abnormal physiologic processes underlying cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Classify the four types of acid-base imbalance according to underlying causes. Review the body's mechanisms of compensation for acid-base imbalance. Compare and contrast hypoxia and hypoxemia. Examine various calculations which utilize arterial blood gas results and relate their clinical significance, such as the A-a gradient, arterial oxygen content, mixed venous oxygen content and the shunt equation. Review case studies, interpret the results of the arterial blood gas and describe the suggested course of action.