ABSTRACT: Blood gas analysis allows you to assess a patient’s acid-base status as well as important aspects of respiratory function. Understanding the results might seem challenging initially, but the information can often be lifesaving if properly interpreted. One common cause of misunderstanding is the vague use of terminology, which this article aims to clarify. Portable and bench-top analysers are becoming more common in veterinary practice so it is even more important that RVNs know how to interpret the results.

Author(s)

Lisa Angell VTS(Anaesthesia) RVN

Lisa is the head anaesthesia nurse at the RVC’s Queen Mother Hospital for Animals. She qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2007 and in 2012 became board certified as a veterinary technician specialist in anaesthesia.

Chris Seymour MA VetMB DVA DipECVAA FHEA MRCVS

Chris is part of the Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia service at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals and is particularly interested in safety in anaesthetic practice, intravenous fluid therapy during surgery and in providing the best possible pain management for all patients.

Keywords: Clinical, Blood, Essentials

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 30 (05) • May 2015 • pp135-139

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