Aim: Evaluation of different alternatives for Blood Gas Analysis of paediatric Cardiac surgical patients.
Objectives: Arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is very important tool for assessment of the clinical condition of patients in various critical conditions; however, arterial puncture may associate with many complications, particularly in paediatric patients. This study is conducted to determine whether venous blood gas (VBG) values can replace arterial blood gas values in paediatric age group patients undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease. To study correlation between arterial blood gas and venous blood gas we have examined arterial as well as venous blood pH, PCo2, PO2, HCO3-, Base excess, Ct O2, SO2 and Ct CO2.
Method: The study was conducted during June 2008 to December 2010 at an academic tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad where DM and MCH super specialist are available as a consultant. Totally, 50 paediatric patients suffering from congenital heart disease included in this study and arterial as well as venous blood sample were collected for blood gas analysis.
Result: There was no significant difference observed between arterial and venous blood respectively in pH (7.37 +/-0.04, 7.33+/-0.04), PCo2 (35.51+/- 5.08, 43.54+/-4.94), HCO3- (20.64+/-1.69, 21.30+-1.81) but significant difference observed in PO2 (77.26+/-37.43, 38.05+/-6.81), Ct O2 and SO2.
Conclusion: We do not recommend venous blood sample as an alternate of arterial blood sample for blood gas analysis as there is poor correlation in PO2, CtO2 and SO2.
Keywords: Arterial blood, Venous blood, Congenital heart disease, pH, PO2, PCo2
