The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Neurology

Authors: Flaherty, Alice W.; Rost, Natalia S.

Title: Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Neurology, The, 2nd Edition

Copyright 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

> Table of Contents > Procedures > Arterial Blood Gas

Arterial Blood Gas

A. Need

ABG kit, optional Xylocaine + TB needle, lab slips.

B. Procedure

Expel gas from syringe, extend pt's wrist, iodine prep, inject Xylocaine, have gauze within reach, feel pulse, bevel up, impale artery vertically, let syringe fill 1-2 cc. Expel air bubbles, cap it, label it, put on ice, and send immediately.

C. Results

Hct and K values vary from that done in a heparinized tube.