Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Dave Lynes.
Blood gas analysis is a procedure that is associated with high dependency, intensive care and respiratory units, but equipment used to carry out blood gas analysis is now commonplace on hospital wards and in some community services. It is, therefore, important for nurses in primary and secondary care to understand the significance of blood gas analysis.
The main objective when treating hypoxia (a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues) and hypercapnia (a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood) is to give sufficient oxygen to ensure that the patient is safe and his or her condition does not deteriorate. However, while giving too little oxygen can result in hypoxia, which can result in death, excessive oxygen therapy can also be dangerous for some patients.
Recent developments in medical management have improved symptom control and life expectancy of patients with chronic respiratory disease (CRD). However, this presents new challenges to patients, their relatives and friends, and health professionals.