- With the asthmatic patient, the arterial blood gas measurements have done little to change a clinician's treatment.
- The need for arterial blood gases has diminished due to the use of pulse oximetry.
- Most patients with asthma will have a typical blood gas with a pH of 7.45 with a PCO2 of 30 or less and a PaO2 of 80 to 100mmHg. [10]
- Most asthmatic patients are able to maintain their own ventilation and are not hypoxic. You may have a patient with a severe asthma exacerbation who has a normal O2 saturation! Always rely first on your clinical assessment.
- It is important to decide whether additional testing will have a positive impact on the patient or cause a change in the course of therapy.
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