wannadowell

Thank you. So when we read CO2 in blood we are reading how CO2 is acting in venous blood (i assume) and blood gasses are then derived from the artrial blood. I will look up the Haldane effect.

By the way the whole subject brought up is CO2 levels read from a blood test rather than a CO2 blood gas. CO2 blood gas normal levels are btw 35-45. CO2 serum = (HCO3-) normal readings vary btw 22-26 through 29.

CO2 blood test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Titled CO2 blood test. Starts off with the following: CO2 is carbon dioxide. This article discusses the laboratory test to measures the amount of carbon dioxide in the liquid part of your blood, called the serum. In the body, most of the CO2 is in the form of a substance called bicarbonate (HCO3-). Therefore, the CO2 blood test is really a measure of your blood bicarbonate level. Article concludes with: Bicarbonate test; HCO3-; Carbon dioxide test; TCO2; Total CO2; CO2 test - serum So it seems when CO2 is measured outside of a gas form it is considered HCO3 and levels should be correlated as such. My whole point in bringing this up because I think many of us may be interpreting the values incorrectly. On our blood tests at work it always shows serum CO2 with normal values listed for what we know to be HCO3 values this is why I went back and double checked the whole thing on my downtime from work. I remember getting confused by this in clinicals and not finding anyone to explain it to me except my big fat diagnostic lab values manual. I just wanted to bring it up to see what more experienced cardiac nurses thought of this. MunoRN says that CO2 in blood is HCO2 and explains that metabolic panels often use the two interchangeably. This is a communication forum in wich we try to improve our nursing practice by bringing things to each others attention and/or asking for help. Please don't assume a person questioning something hasn't checked for evidence of the topic posed for discussion. I appreciated all taking time to respond. Thank you.

Not homework. No longer in school but I did graduate Magna Cum Laude in the top seven of my class and passed my boards in June with 75 questions. Always did my own homework and continue to work hard and question things on my own time as a nurse. I will get the paper I printed out that says CO2 in serum = HCO3. That's the whole point of me bringing it up here. Because it goes against what we have been taught and are used to.

I think this is confusing and many people I know are reading serum C02 from labs as acidic rather than alkaline. Apparently C02 dissolved in blood serum is the same as HC03. Does everyone agree. Also why don't they just say so in the lab results? How does this reading C02 blood coorespond with Anion Gap? What is the significance of anion gap, especially in cardio?

Thank you. Very ineresting and helpful information. Especially interesting with the anion gap. I was looking into that while studying up after my post. The next thing I run into is that CO2 in serum is really HC03. I was discussing this at work last night with my preceptor but she wasn't aware, rather looking at serum C02 and assuming it was acidic rather than the other way around. I wonder how many people get that wrong. That point confused me in nursing school because C02 serum had the same normal values as HC03 now I see why. Please can you remind me of the significance of the anion gap. Isn't it Na+K - something = anion gap.

Thankyou so much for the information. Helpful.

Thank you! I did find Dr. Martin's information last night after sending the message and he does explain it so well. Thank you in addition for your extra articles. Much appreciated.

Can someone please help me understand how an SpO2 value can be 95 while the PaO2 reads as low as 40 to 60. I know SpO2 is Hgb saturation% and SaO2 is O2 pressure in plasma. How can the values in this patient be so off in relation? Does this mean a perfusion/ventilation problem. I am a new grad nurse working in PCCU cardiac.

Ha ha. Thanks so much classicdame...

Thanks for your comment :)

Thank you so much for your help and time, ESME.

Please can someone explain to me why needle sticks are dangerous to affected side after breast removal. I understand that we lose lymph nodes which interrupts the flow of lymph so no BP cuffs should go there. Why can't we draw blood from the veins? Is there simply a greater risk of infection because of irregular lymph drainage? I can't seem to work this out in my brain.

Thank you sorry

:loveya: I am looking for a recommendation for the best professor to choose for anatomy and physiology 101. I plan on attending Ivy Tech Lawrence. I would drive to a different campus to get the best professor.