|
ABG
Apr 6, 2011 9:50:04 GMT -5
Post by rvtoni on Apr 6, 2011 9:50:04 GMT -5
Question: I had an ABG done this week, and it showed my oxygen at 60%. I know it is always lower than the pulse ox shows, but that's pretty low, isn't it? I think it has me worried. Any feedback would be appreciated.
|
|
|
ABG
Apr 6, 2011 10:55:51 GMT -5
Post by chrisw on Apr 6, 2011 10:55:51 GMT -5
Interpreting ABG results is somewhat complicated!! This is a simple conversion - rough but usable for most of us most of the time ;D * If the SPO2 is 90%, the PO2 is probably around 60 * If the SPO2 is 80%, the PO2 is probably around 50% * If the SPO2 is 70%, the PO2 is probably around 40% Our oximeters read the oxygen saturation (SaO2) as a percentage of how much oxygen the blood should carry and we try to keep this over 90% but are happiest when it is over 95% and jealous of our friends with good lungs running around at 98% to 99%. An ABG (arterial blood gas) measures the pressure of the oxygen in the blood - hence PaO2 (or just PO2) and this number is sometimes shown in kPA (kilopascals - a metric unit of pressure) but in North America usually shown in mm Hg (millimeters of mercury pressure and is almost certainly the number you were given - so this should really be 60 mm Hg not 60% (unless they carried you in on a stretcher ;D ) You can read more at respiratorytherapycave.blogspot.com/2010/07/oxyhemoglobin-dissociation-curve.html Summary - at 60 mm Hg PaO2 then you would not likely qualify for supplemental oxygen (unless you were using oxygen at the time)
|
|
|
ABG
Apr 6, 2011 11:30:40 GMT -5
Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Apr 6, 2011 11:30:40 GMT -5
Just to add a little something here Toni...
Different labs and different locations (altitudes) have "normals" for that geographic area though things are generally "averaged" For instance, here in Canada a PaO2 of 55mmHg or less would certainly qualify you for oxygen (the normal average at sea level is 75-100 mmHg)
Are you talking 60% of your SpO2 or 60% of your PaO2
Do you know what your PaO2 is? (not your SpO2; which is what your Finger Pulse Oximeter number would give you)
|
|
|
ABG
Apr 6, 2011 12:40:44 GMT -5
Post by rvtoni on Apr 6, 2011 12:40:44 GMT -5
Thank you for your responses. I don't know what a Pa02 is. My finger pulse ox says 98 or 99 almost all the time. The anesthetist at the surgery center said "60" when I asked what the ABG showed my oxygen as. The ABG was taken while I was on oxygen.
|
|
|
ABG
Apr 7, 2011 11:25:16 GMT -5
Post by Blossom/Jackie W. on Apr 7, 2011 11:25:16 GMT -5
Well Toni..... not quite sure what to tell you becasue I don't know whaty they were referring to. As in 60% of expected of?
At 60% spo2 I've gotta tell ya.... I can't see a person sitting let alone standing. You know what though? For some reason I get the feeling that it's your PaO2 in which case..... you might be doint better than you thought! Wouldn't that be great!
|
|