Most babies born prematurely have respiratory problems and require assisted ventilation and oxygen therapy to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation. Supplemental oxygen is a double-edged sword for these babies because although of life-preserving benefit, oxygen in excess is toxic.  The principal (but not the only)...

In the intensive care unit blood is frequently sampled for arterial blood gases via an indwelling arterial catheter. Around a third of critically ill patients have such catheters inserted; they allow not only easy access for blood sampling but also continuous monitoring of blood pressure. In a short editorial the...

When compared with conventional central laboratory testing (CLT), point-of-care testing (POCT) in the emergency department shortens the time taken for patient test results to be available, which in turn leads to speedier clinical decisions and much earlier patient treatment, hospital admission or discharge.  These are ...

Clinical laboratory measurement of serum/plasma creatinine concentration has been used to assess patient kidney function for well over 50 years.  With the incorporation of creatinine analyses to blood gas and other point-of-care platforms the test is now available outside the laboratory, at the bedside and in the...

Over the years, as clinicians have learned how to utilize it, permissive hypercapnia has been finding a place in healthcare. However, it is important to bear in mind that numbers do not tell the entire story. It is imperative to understand the entire clinical picture before you act. For example, an acidic pH of 7.21...

The appropriate number of significant figures is important in order to have a meaningful level of resolving power when reporting analytical concentrations. Various methods or criteria can be used when estimating how many significant figures are needed. In most cases three significant figures (two true plus one...

The following is a copy of an article from Nursing 2007, Fall 2007 Volume 37 Number 8 - Supplement: ED Insider, Pages 14 - 16 The D-dimer level is a measure of clot formation and lysis that results from the degradation of cross-linked fibrin. Widely used as an indicator for the presence of disseminated intravascular ...

Metabolic acidosis, the most common disturbance of acid-base balance among the critically ill, is characterized by arterial blood gas results that reveal primary decrease in bicarbonate and compensatory decrease in pCO₂(a). Blood pH is reduced unless respiratory compensation is complete. It is most often the result of ...

The prognostic value of measuring umbilical cord blood pH at birth is examined in a recent meta-analysis study. Cord blood acidosis (usually defined as cord blood pH <7.0) is considered evidence that the newborn baby was deprived of oxygen during labor, and in some maternity units cord blood pH is used in the...

Of all blood chemistry parameters, sodium is one of the most frequently measured among hospitalized patients, including those admitted to critical care units. The assay is generally available on point-of-care analyzers sited in these units. Incidence of abnormality in plasma sodium concentration among critically ill...