Let's learn about the ABG test? (Arterial Blood Gas - ABG)

Have you ever seen someone in the intensive care unit (ICU) or someone who has been brought to the emergency room (ETU) with severe breathing difficulties, and the doctors rush to tell them to "do an ABG"? This is a very important and somewhat specialized blood test. Today, we'll talk about it simply, in a way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is this ABG test?

ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) is a test that takes a small amount of blood from an artery in our body. Now you might be thinking, "Other blood tests take blood from a vein, what's the difference?"

Think of it this way. Our body is like a city.

• Arteries are like major highways that bring essential things like oxygen and nutrition to a city.
• Veins are like old roads in the city that carry waste products like carbon dioxide back to the city.

So, if we want to know exactly how much oxygen is getting to our body's organs, especially the brain and heart, we need to test the blood that's on that "highway," right? That's why blood is taken from an artery for the ABG test.

This test mainly measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood. It also measures the acid-base balance, or pH, of your blood. This balance is essential for all processes in our bodies.

What exactly does an ABG test measure?

When you look at an ABG report, you'll see some letters that are a little hard to understand. But the meaning is very simple. Let's see what each of those values ​​means.

When is an ABG test needed?

This is not a test done for a routine check-up. It is often done in emergencies and to monitor the condition of patients who are already hospitalized . Here are some of the main reasons a doctor might order this test:

• Severe breathing difficulties: In cases such as asthma exacerbations and fluid accumulation in the lungs (acute respiratory failure).
• Severe infectious conditions: In life-threatening infections such as sepsis or septic shock.
• Diabetes-related complications: In conditions where the blood becomes acidic, such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
• Heart attack or heart failure: When the heart suddenly stops working (Acute heart failure) or when the heart stops (Cardiac arrest).
• Kidney failure: When the kidneys are unable to properly remove acids from the blood, the blood becomes acidic. Learn about this condition.
• Poisoning: When certain toxins are ingested, the pH of the blood changes.
• Before and after major surgery: Monitor the patient's respiratory status during anesthesia and after surgery.
• Chronic lung diseases: See if treatment is successful for people with diseases like COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

How is this test done? Does it hurt?

Getting an ABG test is a little different than a regular blood test.

Before the test

Sometimes, if you are being given supplemental oxygen, it may be stopped about 20 minutes before the test. This is to see how your body functions without oxygen. But if you absolutely cannot do without oxygen, you may not do so. If blood is being taken from your wrist, the doctor or trained officer may do a simple test called the 'Allen test' to see if there is good blood circulation in your arm.

While taking the test

1. A doctor or trained professional will find an artery on the inside of your wrist (radial artery), near your elbow (brachial artery), or in your groin (femoral artery).

2. Clean the area thoroughly and apply a disinfectant.

3. Then, a very small needle is inserted into the artery and a small amount of blood is drawn into a syringe.

4. To be honest , this can be a little more painful than getting blood drawn from a vein. This is because the artery is located a little deeper under our skin and has more nerves around it. But the pain is only at the moment the needle is inserted.

5. After the required amount of blood has been collected, remove the needle and apply pressure to the area with a piece of cotton or gauze to stop the bleeding for about 5 to 10 minutes . If you are taking blood-thinning medication, you may need to apply pressure for longer.

After the test

The area where the needle was inserted may be slightly bruised or blue. This is normal. Your doctor will tell you to avoid lifting heavy objects with that arm for 24 hours after the blood draw.

How are the average values ​​in the report?

These values ​​may vary slightly from lab to lab, but these are the average values ​​for a healthy adult at sea level. It is best to ask your doctor for a complete explanation of the values ​​in your report.

If these values ​​are outside the normal range, it could mean that your body isn't getting enough oxygen , or that carbon dioxide isn't getting out of your system properly , or that your blood's acid/base balance is out of balance . Your doctor will use this report, your symptoms, and other tests to determine exactly what's wrong with you.

ABG, Arterial Blood Gas, Blood tests, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, pH, Breathing difficulties, Lung diseases, Emergency care, Medical tests