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Journal Scan
October 2014
Blood gases and acute pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis, i.e. acute inflammation of the pancreas, causes sudden onset of severe upper abdominal pain often radiating to the back. Other symptoms include vomiting, constipation and pyrexia. Two main causes - alcohol abuse and gall stone disease – account for the majority (~80 %) of cases. The condition has a ...
Blood gases/acid-base
Journal Scan
October 2014
A new role for point-of-care serum BNP testing?
Circulating concentrations of the hormone brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and its precursor molecule, NT-proBNP are increased in those with heart failure. This has allowed a now established role for serum BNP and NT-proBNP testing in the investigation of patients presenting with shortness of breath, a cardinal symptom ...
Point-of-care testing
Natriuretic peptide
Journal Scan
October 2014
Critical lab results – do they need to be repeated before reporting?
It is mandated that clinical laboratory staff should identify patient results that are grossly abnormal and have critical significance, so that clinical care staff can be informed immediately. Most laboratories have a policy of repeating the analysis before reporting such critical values in order to confirm that the...
Quality assurance
Journal Scan
October 2014
Raised blood glucose during acute illness and risk of subsequent diabetes
Increased blood glucose (hyperglycemia) is a common finding among patients with acute medical conditions or trauma that warrant admission to medical wards or intensive care. In some cases this hyperglycemia is due to previously diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but for the majority it is a consequence of the stress ...
Glucose
Journal Scan
July 2014
Raised serum bilirubin (jaundice) – a review of inheritable causes
Bilirubin is a waste product of hemoglobin catabolism that is excreted via the liver in bile.
Abnormal accumulation of this yellow pigment in blood results in jaundice. For adults and children, increased serum bilirubin and resulting jaundice is most commonly a signal of liver or biliary-tract disease; whilst for...
Neonatology
Bilirubin
Journal Scan
July 2014
The significance of blood gas results following cardiac arrest
Those who have been resuscitated from cardiac arrest may benefit from mechanical-ventilation strategies aimed at maintaining pCO2 above the normal (reference) range, 35-45 mmHg (4.7-6.0 kPa). This is the headline finding of recently published research from the FINNRESCUI study group, a collaboration of Finnish...
Blood gases/acid-base
Journal Scan
July 2014
Heparin anticoagulation of samples for blood gas analysis
Since the inception of blood gas analysis, heparin has been the anticoagulant of choice for preparation of samples. Historically, syringes used to collect arterial blood for gas analysis were prepared ”in house” by aspirating a small volume of liquid heparin (LH) and then expelling it. The thin film of liquid heparin...
Blood gases/acid-base
Preanalytical phase
Journal Scan
July 2014
Severe hypokalemia – an instructive case history report
In health serum potassium concentration is maintained within the approximate reference range of 3.5-5.2 mmol/L (or 3.5-5.2 mEq/L). Hypokalemia (reduced serum potassium) is therefore defined as serum potassium <3.5 mmol/L (or <3.5 mEq/L). Severe hypokalemia (<3.0 mmol/L) is associated with muscular weakness progressing to ...
Electrolytes
Journal Scan
July 2014
Acidosis at birth – significance for very premature, low-birthweight infants
Umbilical-cord blood gas analysis provides objective evidence of the metabolic status of neonates at the time of delivery. Perinatal metabolic acidosis is indicative of hypoxia (sometimes the result of asphyxia during birth) and associated risk of permanent brain damage.
A recently published study sought to assess...
Blood gases/acid-base
Neonatology
Journal Scan
May 2014
Venous versus arterial blood for blood gas analysis – revisited
Arterial blood is the “gold standard” sample for blood gas analysis. Compared with venous blood sampling, arterial blood sampling is technically more difficult as well as being more painful and hazardous to the patient. These are among the considerations that drive the continuing research interest in establishing...
Blood gases/acid-base
Preanalytical phase
Quality assurance