Can Venous Blood Gas Be Used as an Alternative to Arterial Blood Gas in Intubated Patients at Admission to the Emergency Department? A Retrospective Study.

For pH, bicarbonate, BE and lactate venous blood gases can be used as surrogates for arterial measurements. Venous pCO2 can be used for screening of hypercapnia and trending. Respirator adjustments may be done too often if the venous blood gas is used.