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AIMS: To assess the comparability of venous and arterial samples for pH, bicarbonate and potassium measurements in critically ill patients. METHODS: Simultaneous arterial and venous samples from 206 critically ill patients were analysed in duplicate. Coefficients of variation and 95% limits of agreement were calculated for arterial and venous samples. Bland-Altman plots were constructed to assess agreement between sampling sites. RESULTS: The median (range) of arterial pH, bicarbonate concentrations, potassium concentrations and glucose concentrations were 7.40 (7.01-7.56), 25 (9-41) mmol/l, 4.2 (3.1-6.8) mmol/l and 7.4 (3.0-13.5) mmol/l, respectively. Coefficients of variation for arterial and venous pH were both 0.1%, with bias (95% limits of agreement) of -0.01 (-0.03 to 0.01) for arterial and -0.01 (-0.02 to 0.01) for venous samples. The bias (95% limits of agreement) between arterial and venous samples was 0.03 (-0.02 to 0.08). Coefficients of variation for arterial and venous bicarbonate results were 0.8 and 0.7%, respectively, with bias (95% limits of agreement) of 0 (-0.5 to 0.5) mmol/l for both sample types. The bias (95% limits of agreement) between venous and arterial samples was 0 (-1.3 to 1.3) mmol/l. Coefficients of variation for arterial and venous potassium samples were 0.8 and 1.1%, respectively, with bias (95% limits of agreement) of 0 (-0.1 to 0.1) for both sample types. The bias (95% limits of agreement) between venous and arterial samples was 0.1 (-0.4 to 0.6) mmol/l. CONCLUSIONS: A venous blood sample, analysed on a blood gas machine, is sufficiently reliable to assess pH, bicarbonate and potassium concentrations in critically ill patients, suggesting that venous sampling alone is appropriate in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1464-5491.2011.03390.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Diabet Med

Publication Date

01/2012

Volume

29

Pages

32 - 35

Keywords

Acid-Base Imbalance, Arteries, Bicarbonates, Blood Gas Analysis, Critical Illness, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Female, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Male, Middle Aged, Potassium, Prospective Studies, Reproducibility of Results, Veins