Flashcard 1
Q: What does an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) test measure?
A:
• pH (acidity)
• Oxygen (O₂)
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
👉 To evaluate lung function
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 2
Q: Why is ABG taken from an artery, not a vein?
A:
Because it measures gases before reaching tissues → more accurate for lung function
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 3
Q: What is PaO₂?
A:
Partial pressure of oxygen → measures how well O₂ moves from lungs to blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 4
Q: What is PaCO₂?
A:
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide → reflects how well CO₂ is removed
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 5
Q: What does pH indicate in ABG?
A:
Hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration → acidity/alkalinity of blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 6
Q: What is the normal blood pH?
A:
7.35 – 7.45 (slightly alkaline)
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 7
Q: What happens if pH < 7.35?
A:
Acidosis
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 8
Q: What happens if pH > 7.45?
A:
Alkalosis
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 9
Q: What is the role of HCO₃⁻ (Bicarbonate)?
A:
Acts as a buffer → prevents pH changes
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 10
Q: What is O₂ Saturation (O₂Sat)?
A:
Percentage of hemoglobin carrying oxygen
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 11
Q: What is O₂ Content (O₂CT)?
A:
Total amount of oxygen in blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 12 (Important Normals)
Q: Normal ABG values?
A:
• pH: 7.35–7.45
• PaO₂: 75–100 mmHg
• PaCO₂: 38–42 mmHg
• HCO₃⁻: 22–28 mEq/L
• O₂Sat: 94–100%
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 13
Q: Common site for ABG sampling?
A:
Radial artery (wrist)
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 14
Q: Other sites for ABG collection?
A:
• Brachial artery
• Femoral artery
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 15
Q: Why is the syringe pre-heparinized?
A:
To prevent clotting
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 16
Q: When should ABG sample be analyzed?
A:
Within 30 minutes
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 17
Q: What to do if analysis is delayed?
A:
Put sample on ice
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 18 (Tricky 🔥)
Q: What happens if air enters the sample?
A:
Alters gas values → incorrect results
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 19 (Exam Trap ⚠️)
Q: What is a common sampling error?
A:
Taking venous blood instead of arterial
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 20
Q: Other causes of incorrect ABG results?
A:
• Too much/too little heparin
• Delay in transport
• Air bubbles
Flashcard 1
Q: What does an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) test measure?
A:
• pH (acidity)
• Oxygen (O₂)
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
👉 To evaluate lung function
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 2
Q: Why is ABG taken from an artery, not a vein?
A:
Because it measures gases before reaching tissues → more accurate for lung function
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 3
Q: What is PaO₂?
A:
Partial pressure of oxygen → measures how well O₂ moves from lungs to blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 4
Q: What is PaCO₂?
A:
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide → reflects how well CO₂ is removed
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 5
Q: What does pH indicate in ABG?
A:
Hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration → acidity/alkalinity of blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 6
Q: What is the normal blood pH?
A:
7.35 – 7.45 (slightly alkaline)
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 7
Q: What happens if pH < 7.35?
A:
Acidosis
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 8
Q: What happens if pH > 7.45?
A:
Alkalosis
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 9
Q: What is the role of HCO₃⁻ (Bicarbonate)?
A:
Acts as a buffer → prevents pH changes
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 10
Q: What is O₂ Saturation (O₂Sat)?
A:
Percentage of hemoglobin carrying oxygen
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 11
Q: What is O₂ Content (O₂CT)?
A:
Total amount of oxygen in blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 12 (Important Normals)
Q: Normal ABG values?
A:
• pH: 7.35–7.45
• PaO₂: 75–100 mmHg
• PaCO₂: 38–42 mmHg
• HCO₃⁻: 22–28 mEq/L
• O₂Sat: 94–100%
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 13
Q: Common site for ABG sampling?
A:
Radial artery (wrist)
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 14
Q: Other sites for ABG collection?
A:
• Brachial artery
• Femoral artery
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 15
Q: Why is the syringe pre-heparinized?
A:
To prevent clotting
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 16
Q: When should ABG sample be analyzed?
A:
Within 30 minutes
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 17
Q: What to do if analysis is delayed?
A:
Put sample on ice
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 18 (Tricky 🔥)
Q: What happens if air enters the sample?
A:
Alters gas values → incorrect results
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 19 (Exam Trap ⚠️)
Q: What is a common sampling error?
A:
Taking venous blood instead of arterial
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 20
Q: Other causes of incorrect ABG results?
A:
• Too much/too little heparin
• Delay in transport
• Air bubbles
Flashcard 1
Q: What does an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) test measure?
A:
• pH (acidity)
• Oxygen (O₂)
• Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
👉 To evaluate lung function
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 2
Q: Why is ABG taken from an artery, not a vein?
A:
Because it measures gases before reaching tissues → more accurate for lung function
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 3
Q: What is PaO₂?
A:
Partial pressure of oxygen → measures how well O₂ moves from lungs to blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 4
Q: What is PaCO₂?
A:
Partial pressure of carbon dioxide → reflects how well CO₂ is removed
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 5
Q: What does pH indicate in ABG?
A:
Hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration → acidity/alkalinity of blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 6
Q: What is the normal blood pH?
A:
7.35 – 7.45 (slightly alkaline)
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 7
Q: What happens if pH < 7.35?
A:
Acidosis
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 8
Q: What happens if pH > 7.45?
A:
Alkalosis
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 9
Q: What is the role of HCO₃⁻ (Bicarbonate)?
A:
Acts as a buffer → prevents pH changes
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 10
Q: What is O₂ Saturation (O₂Sat)?
A:
Percentage of hemoglobin carrying oxygen
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 11
Q: What is O₂ Content (O₂CT)?
A:
Total amount of oxygen in blood
⸻
🧠 Flashcard 12 (Important Normals)
Q: Normal ABG values?
A:
• pH: 7.35–7
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