Question 1

how does sleep apnea affect arterial blood gas?

Accepted Answer

When taken?: If the blood gas is taken while the person is awake, the results are likely to be normal unless there is an underlying breathing or lung disorder. If taken while asleep, it could show a low oxygen level, a higher than normal co2 level, but these changes are constantly fluctuating on a breath by breath basis.

Question 2

in a person with sleep apnea, what causes the rises and falls in oxygen saturation of arterial blood during sleep?

Accepted Answer

Lack of oxygen: When you stop breathing (apnea) oxygen and carbon dioxide do not exchange in the lungs. Oxygen drops (hypoxia) and co2 increase (hypercapnia)... Classic response in a patient with apnea.

Question 3

how does smoking affect arterial blood gas results?

Accepted Answer

Measure CO level: An arterial blood gas measures the blood pH (normal 7.40), po2 (partial pressure of oxygen), pco2, partial pressure of co2 and the bicarbonate (sodium bicarbonate) level is calculated.  Smoking increases carboxyhemoglobin level with carbon monoxide binding to the hemoglobin displacing oxygen.  The po2 is unaffected by carbon monoxide but the hemoglobin delivers carbon monoxide (a poison) to tissues instead of oxygen.

Question 4

does it hurt to get  an arterial blood gas done?

Accepted Answer

Just a needle stick: An arterial blood gas (abg) is a blood draw from an artery rather than a vein.  For some there is slightly more discomfort with an abg than there is with a routine blood draw.  For others there is less pain.

Question 5

arterial blood gas question? do they stick you for it?

Accepted Answer

Yes: As the name implies, an arterial blood gas is when they check your gas levels (oxygen and carbon dioxide) from the blood in your arteries.  Therefore, you must be stuck with a needle in your artery (usually the radial artery for an adult).  The only time you wouldn't be stuck for it is if you already have a special IV line (arterial line) in place - but then you're most likely in the icu.

Question 6

why is an modified allen's test performed when drawing arterial blood gas?

Accepted Answer

To avoid ischemia: Allen test is done to ensure that dual arterial blood supply to the hand is intact.  If both and radial and ulner arteries are not intact and if  the remaining artery is damaged it could disable the hand, therefore allen test is essential to ensure adequate blood supply to the hand in case of injury to the artery from which blood may be drawn.

Question 7

my arterial blood gas says p02 is 72 and the oxygen saturation is 95 and calcium (ionised) 1.12 . are these normal numbers?

Accepted Answer

: Such numbers suggest the "ABG" was actually obtained from a vein, not the artery. A saturation of 95% would  correlate with an arterial blood gas above pAo2 94.

Question 8

does getting an arterial blood gas hurt much?

Accepted Answer

A bit: Arteries are more muscular than veins and have a higher pressure inside.  The arterial stick is not much different than a venous blood draw but it has to be held with pressure plus have a pressure dressing afterward.

Question 9

what is the normal range for arterial blood gas?

Accepted Answer

Blood gas: Ph: 7.35-7.45
 pco2: 35-45
hco3: 22-26 
po2:80-100mmhg
o2 saturation:95-100mmhg.

Question 10

how would oxygen deprivation change arterial blood gas levels?

Accepted Answer

Breath rate increase: O2 deprivation will typically cause people to breath faster. Abg measures levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide and blood ph. Faster breathing causes a drop in co2 which then causes the blood to have an increase in ph (towards basic, not acidic). Over time, the body would compensate for this ph change via acid retention by the kidney and although the co2 would remain low, the ph would approach normal.

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Doctor answers about:

How does sleep apnea affect arterial blood gas

A member asked:

How does sleep apnea affect arterial blood gas?

A member asked:

In a person with sleep apnea, what causes the rises and falls in oxygen saturation of arterial blood during sleep?

A member asked:

How does smoking affect arterial blood gas results?

A member asked:

Does it hurt to get an arterial blood gas done?

A member asked:

Arterial blood gas question? do they stick you for it?

A member asked:

Why is an modified allen's test performed when drawing arterial blood gas?

A member asked:

My arterial blood gas says p02 is 72 and the oxygen saturation is 95 and calcium (ionised) 1.12 . are these normal numbers?

A member asked:

Does getting an arterial blood gas hurt much?

A member asked:

What is the normal range for arterial blood gas?

A member asked:

How would oxygen deprivation change arterial blood gas levels?

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