A 42-year-old member asked:
How does smoking affect arterial blood gas results?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Stephen Siegelanswered
Pulmonology 40 years experience
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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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A 20-year-old male asked:
How can I explain arterial blood gas?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Robert Killiananswered
General Practice 30 years experience
Blood Gases: I am not sure what context you are asking about. The questions is very ambiguous. What specifically prompts this question?
But, blood gases tell the medical team how well the oxygen and carbon dioxide balance is being maintained in the body. It can tell how the fragile balance of being acidic or basic is in a sick person. It is used in many instances in the hospital with very ill patients.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
What are they looking for in a arterial blood gas?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Edward Goldberganswered
Specializes in Gastroenterology
O2/CO2 exchange: Abg is used for two purposes: 1) how your lungs are handling the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide 2) the acid/base metabolism affected by breathing and various metabolic disturbances (eg., diabetic coma, toxic ingestion of substances, sepsis).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jan 12, 2015
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