ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS MONITORING IN CRITICALLY ILL ANTENATAL AND POSTNATAL PATIENTS

Arterial blood gas determinations (ABGs) play an important role in diagnosing derangements in acid-base balance, oxygenation, and ventilation. Frequent assessment is necessary in the management of critically ill antenatal and postnatal patients. This article reviews the technologic evolution of modern blood gas analysis and the clinical application of monitoring hydrogen ion content (pH), blood oxygen tension (PO2), and carbon dioxide tension (PCO2) acid base balance in the body.