Arteriovenous blood gas agreement in intensive care patients with varying levels of circulatory compromise: A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: Venous blood gas (VBG) analysis is suggested as an alternative to arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis. In haemodynamically stable patients, there is clinically acceptable arteriovenous (AV) agreement for pH and bicarbonate (HCO3-) concentration, but in haemodynamically unstable patients, evidence is conflicting. We aimed to evaluate the level of AV agreement for the values of pH, PCO2, base excess, HCO3- and lactate between ABGs and VBGs in critically ill patients with varying degrees of hypotension. Design and setting: A prospective cohort study of a convenience sample of patients in an intensive care unit of a metropolitan teaching hospital. Intervention: Paired ABG and central VB..