Point-of-Care-Monitoring: Blood gas analysis

Electrolyte- and acid-base-balance are relevant determinants for metabolic processes whose real time analysis is obligatory particularly in perioperative and intensive care treated patients. Also, the oxygenation status of the blood as a determinant for the oxygen supply of an organism and for the gas exchange is measured. By use of point-of-care (POC) monitoring, these important variables of blood gas analysis (BGA) can be measured real-time, potential mechanisms of compensation identified and disorder of homoeostasis reconstituted quickly. This article deals with the presentation of relevant parameters of blood gas analysis, potential pathologies and their treatment. © Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart - New York.