[PDF] Blood Gas Analysis

🧠 Master your next blood gas panel with our brand-new Vetpocket Cheat Sheet! Here is a simple, plain-text breakdown to help you manage your critical patients on the floor. 📈 Normal Reference Ranges (Dogs & Cats): pH: 7.35 to 7.45 PCO2: 35 to 45 mm Hg HCO3-: 20 to 25 mEq/L BE (Base Excess): -4 to 4 mEq/L 🫁 The “R-O-M-E” Mnemonic: - Respiratory Opposite: PCO2 and pH have an inverse relationship - Metabolic Equal: HCO3 (or BE) and pH have a direct relationship. 📋 The 5-Step Systematic Approach Step 1: Identify if it is a venous or an arterial sample. Remember to evaluate PaO2 as well if it is an arterial sample. Step 2: Determine if the blood gas is normal, a mixed acid-base disorder, or if there is a primary disturbance. Step 3: If there is a primary metabolic acidosis, calculate the anion gap. Step 4: Determine if there is a compensatory response. Step 5: Evaluate whether that compensation is appropriate or inappropriate. 🧪 Calculating the Anion GapAnion Gap = (Na+ + K+) - (Cl- + HCO3-) Dog Reference Range: ~12 to 24 mEq/L Cat Reference Range: ~13 to 27 mEq/L Important Note: Remember to adjust the anion gap in the presence of hypoalbuminemia. 💬 Want to grab the full PDF version of this guide?