Blood gas tension

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Blood gas tension refers to the

arterial blood gas
tests) measure these partial pressures.

Oxygen tension

Arterial blood oxygen tension (normal)

PaO2 – Partial pressure of oxygen at sea level (160 

mmHg in the atmosphere, 21% of standard atmospheric pressure of 760 mmHg) in arterial blood is between 75 mmHg and 100 mmHg.[4][5][6]

Venous blood oxygen tension (normal)

PvO2 – Oxygen tension in venous blood at sea level is between 30 mmHg and 40 mmHg.[6][7]

Carbon dioxide tension

Carbon dioxide is a by-product of food metabolism and in high amounts has toxic effects including:

altered consciousness.[8]

Arterial blood carbon dioxide tension

PaCO2 – Partial pressure of carbon dioxide at sea level in arterial blood is between 35 mmHg and 45 mmHg.[9]

Venous blood carbon dioxide tension

PvCO2 – Partial pressure of carbon dioxide at sea level in venous blood is between 40 mmHg and 50 mmHg.[9]

Carbon monoxide tension

Arterial carbon monoxide tension (normal)

PaCO – Partial pressure of CO at sea level in arterial blood is approximately 0.02. It can be slightly higher in smokers and people living in dense urban areas.

Significance

The partial pressure of gas in blood is significant because it is directly related to

HCO
3
(and lactate) suggest to the health care practitioner which interventions, if any, should be made.[10][11]

Equations

Oxygen content

The constant, 1.36, is the amount of oxygen (ml at 1 atmosphere) bound per gram of

Oxygen saturation

This is an estimation and does not account for differences in temperature, pH and concentrations of 2,3 DPG.[13]

See also

References