Every cell in our body requires oxygen to survive. When we breathe, our lungs move oxygen into the blood and push carbon dioxide out. This process, known as gas exchange, gives energy to the body and expels waste products.
But if you are experiencing difficulty in breathing or suffering from an illness that affects your any organs in your body and affects the metabolic system and homeostasis of the body, doctor may use an arterial blood gas (ABG) test to check what’s happening with your body system and how the kidney and lungs are supporting to maintain the homeostasis of the body. This test gives your doctor feedback about how well your lungs, heart, and kidneys are supporting your body . You’ll probably get other tests along, too.
Why you need an ABG test?
ABG analysis gives information about the oxygenation status and allows the clinician to assess the elimination of carbon dioxide and metabolic parameters of the critically ill patient to maintain the normal pH of the body. This allows better goal-oriented management of the ICU patient according to the changing conditions and determines how well treatments are working.
It also helps to decide whether the patient needs extra oxygen or other help with breathing.
A high-risk patient's clinical status can change rapidly, and the need for ventilator support in terms of oxygenation or minute ventilation can vary at different stages.
Ventilator settings are adjusted after reviewing the ABG report and the health clinical status of the patient. This improves oxygenation, ventilation, and acid-base balance, or wean the patient from ventilatory support. No critical care support can be effective without the help of ABG readings.
ABG is also used to monitor diabetic patients with the condition of ketoacidosis. Their sugar levels may rise to a dangerous level. The test monitors typical manifestations of metabolic acidosis, low bicarbonate, and low pH and helps to make necessary corrections.