Blood Gas Analysis Essentials

Here, you’ll cover the relationship between a gas's fractional concentration and partial pressure, and calculations of partial pressures of dry versus humidified gases.

Learn about gas diffusion across the alveolar-capillary membrane. Factors discussed include the properties of the alveolar-capillary membrane and the gases within the alveoli.

Understand how oxygen is distributed between hemoglobin and the rest of the cell environment, and the factors affecting the equilibrium between free and hemoglobin-bound oxygen.

This chapter addresses the determinants of oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues. The concepts of oxygen content of the blood and cardiac output are discussed.

Understand the relationship between regional lung ventilation and perfusion. Learn about why regional variations in ventilation and perfusion occur and the effect on gas exchange.

Learn about the main determinants of arterial PCO2, the relationship between carbon dioxide production and elimination, and the importance of alveolar and dead space ventilation.

This chapter covers the relationship between arterial PCO2, pH, and ventilation. You’ll cover the roles of ventilation and alterations in arterial PCO2 in adjusting arterial pH.

This chapter provides two clinical cases for analysis, drawn from real-life clinical practice. These incorporate many of the principles covered in the preceding chapters.