ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Correlation of simultaneously obtained capillary, venous, and arterial blood gases of patients in a paediatric intensive care unit

D Yldzda¹, H Yapcolu², H L Ylmaz³, Y Sertdemir⁴

¹ Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, 01330, Adana, Turkey
² Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, 01330, Adana, Turkey
³ Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Care Unit, 01330, Adana, Turkey
⁴ Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, 01330, Adana, Turkey

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr D Yldzdas
Çukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Paediatrc Intensive Care Unit, 01330, Adana, Turkey; rdy90{at}hotmail.com

Aims: To investigate the correlation of pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO₂), base excess (BE), and bicarbonate (HCO₃) between arterial (ABG), venous (VBG), and capillary (CBG) blood gases.

Methods: Patients admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Çukurova University between August 2000 and February 2002 were enrolled.

Results: A total of 116 simultaneous venous, arterial, and capillary blood samples were obtained from 116 patients (mean age 56.91 months, range 15 days to 160 months). Eight (7%) were neonates. Sixty six (57%) were males. pH, PCO₂, BE, and HCO₃ were all significantly correlated in ABG, VBG, and CBG. Correlation in PO₂ was also significant, but less so. Correlation between pH, PCO₂, PO₂, BE, and HCO₃ was similar in the presence of hypothermia, hyperthermia, and prolonged capillary refilling time. In hypotension, correlation in PO₂ between VBG and CBG was similar but disappeared in ABG–VBG and ABG–CBG.

Conclusions: There is a significant correlation in pH, PCO₂, PO₂, BE, and HCO₃ among ABG, VBG, and CBG values, except for a poor correlation in PO₂ in the presence of hypotension. Capillary and venous blood gas measurements may be useful alternatives to arterial samples for patients who do not require regular continuous blood pressure recordings and close monitoring of PaO₂. We do not recommend CBG and VBG for determining PO₂ of ABG.

Keywords: arterial; venous; capillary; blood gases; correlation

Abbreviations: ABG, arterial blood gases; BE, base excess; CBG, capillary blood gases; PCO₂, partial pressure of carbon dioxide; PICU, paediatric intensive care unit; PO₂, partial pressure of oxygen; RDS, respiratory distress syndrome; VBG, venous blood gases

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Balfour-Lynn, I M, Field, D J, Gringras, P, Hicks, B, Jardine, E, Jones, R C, Magee, A G, Primhak, R A, Samuels, M P, Shaw, N J, Stevens, S, Sullivan, C, Taylor, J A, Wallis, C, on behalf of the Paediatric Section of the Home Ox, (2009). BTS guidelines for home oxygen in children. Thorax 64: ii1-ii26 [Full Text]  
• Lacerenza, S., De Carolis, M. P., Fusco, F. P., La Torre, G., Chiaradia, G., Romagnoli, C. (2008). An Evaluation of a New Combined Spo2/PtcCO2 Sensor in Very Low Birth Weight Infants. Anesth. Analg. 107: 125-129 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Murray, D M, Boylan, G B, Fitzgerald, A P, Ryan, C A, Murphy, B P, Connolly, S (2008). Persistent lactic acidosis in neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy correlates with EEG grade and electrographic seizure burden. Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 93: F183-F186 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Murray, D. M., Ryan, C. A., Boylan, G. B., Fitzgerald, A. P., Connolly, S. (2006). Prediction of Seizures in Asphyxiated Neonates: Correlation With Continuous Video-Electroencephalographic Monitoring. Pediatrics 118: 41-46 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Urquhart, D S, Montgomery, H, Jaffe, A (2005). Assessment of hypoxia in children with cystic fibrosis. Arch. Dis. Child. 90: 1138-1143 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Balfour-Lynn, I M, Primhak, R A, Shaw, B N J (2005). Home oxygen for children: who, how and when?. Thorax 60: 76-81 [Abstract] [Full Text]  

eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Capillary blood gases

Girish Gupta, et al.

ADC Online, 19 Feb 2004 [Full text]

Poor statistical reporting

Jaishen Rajah

ADC Online, 19 Feb 2004 [Full text]

Critically ill children

Paul A. Heaton

ADC Online, 22 Apr 2004 [Full text]