Complete Course: Arterial Blood Gases
(Parts I & II, Course 990711, 8 Contact Hours)

Part I: Blood Gas Basics and the Respiratory System

3 Contact Hours (Course 990711A)

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the basic elements of blood gases, how they are analyzed, and how that information is used in healthcare
• Identify how blood gases fit into the overall respiratory system
• Discuss blood gas analyzers and explain how they work
• List and discuss the blood gas values that are considered “normal” and “abnormal”

Introduction
In this course we will review Blood Gas Basics, all the aspects of gas exchange and Acid-Base Balance, including O2 transport, ventilation, control of respiration, and a generalized summary – animals utilize O2 and produce CO2 + heat = occurs in the mitochondria – for cellular respiration to occur, must be a steady supply of O2 and CO2 must be steadily removed. There will be some overlap since the topics are all intertwined.

Close relationship between interdependence of plants and animals e.g. plants produce O2 as a result of photosynthesis (however, can only occur during daylight) and the interconnectedness between the physical, chemical and biological aspects to life (e.g. O2 level in water, ice and atmosphere – “circle of life”

Note: balance of atmospheric gases, the needs of both animal and plants is in some way delicate and can be disturbed/disrupted via man’s activities i.e. think about the environmental contaminants assignment. However, first we should review some basics of Respiration:

Part II: Arterial Blood Gas: A Review of Interpretation Skills

5 Contact Hours (Course 990711B)

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast the difference between primary acidosis and primary alkalotic states.
2. Describe three metabolic problems. Do they result in alkalosis or acidosis? Why?
3. Describe three respiratory problems. Do they result in acidosis or alkalosis? Why?
4. Describe the process utilized to interpret acid-base disorders.
5. Differentiate between oxygen transport and carbon dioxide production and elimination.
6. Assess oxygenation at the tissue levels.

Introduction
A complete assessment of acid-base balance should include determinations of PaCO2, pH and bicarbonate concentrations, as well as the levels of the other serum electrolytes. Diagnostic possibilities include pure metabolic or respiratory acidosis, or a combination of the two, and pure respiratory or metabolic alkalosis, or a combination of the two. Respiratory and metabolic compensatory mechanisms are frequently involved, and in mixed disturbances in clinical circumstances frequently are of a mixed variety.

This course will help you sort out the acid-base component and the nuances associated with arterial blood gas interpretation which allows you to ascertain and identify arterial blood gas disorders. The oxygenation component of the arterial blood gas analysis is in the latter portion of this unit of instruction.