How do you explain what an ABG is to families?

Specialties Critical

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I am usually pretty good at teaching families and explaining things (I think), but this one is tricky for me. How do you explain what an ABG is for to families with no medical knowledge?

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

An ABG measures several things in the blood, oxygen (what you inhale), carbon dioxide (what you exhale), and how much acid is in the blood. All these things help us determine corrective measures to make with medications, ventilator settings and oxygen for our patient.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

I like that, thanks.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

Just hope they don't think I mean acid like the drug....I had a family ask me once if the humidifier bubbler on the oxygen was for making meth....oh dear!

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An ABG measures several things in the blood, oxygen (what you inhale), carbon dioxide (what you exhale), and how much acid is in the blood. All these things help us determine corrective measures to make with medications, ventilator settings and oxygen for our patient.

Exactly.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
An ABG measures several things in the blood, oxygen (what you inhale), carbon dioxide (what you exhale), and how much acid is in the blood. All these things help us determine corrective measures to make with medications, ventilator settings and oxygen for our patient.

Perfect...!

OP if you are concerned about the "acid" thing then say.......and acid/base balance in the blood/body.

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and acid/base balance

Freebase? :p

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