Arterial blood gas monitoring.

A clinically relevant presentation of interpretation of arterial blood gas measurements in the critically ill patient is presented. Oxygenation deficits are discussed in relation to differentiation of pulmonary, cardiovascular, and metabolic causes. Metabolic acid base balance is discussed with special emphasis on the low cardiac output state (CPR). Ventilation deficits are discussed in terms of alveolar ventilation, deadspace ventilation and CO2 stores. The future trends of continuous blood gas monitoring are discussed.