Question:
What is Room Air ABG's?

This is on the pre-op list of studies etc to be done while we wait for my ins. authorization. I searched the data base and could find no reference to this. All the others I knew and understood. What is this and how is it done. Thanks so much.    — Beth C. (posted on December 10, 2000)

December 10, 2000
Room air ABG's: ABG stands for Atrial Blood Gas, specifically the amount of oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc., that is in your blood while you are breathing room air. They also do ABG's while people are on oxygen, etc. People with lung or heart disease, or even some blood disorders, such as severe anemia, can have a reduced blood oxygen level. This can be countered by putting the person on a higher percentage mix of oxygen and air.
   — merri B.

December 10, 2000
ABG actually stands for "arterial blood gas". Notice the word arterial. This means that the blood is taken from an artery, not a vein. Expect to be stuck in your lower wrist area where you can feel a pulse. Sometimes, you may be stuck above your bend in the arm (but NOT where regular labs are drawn). It is a little more painful than regular labwork, but they only have to take a tiny bit of blood. They test the blood for your levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide. The room air part means that you are not on any type of supplemental oxygen...just breathing normally. Hope this helps.
   — Tina K.

December 11, 2000
That will teach me to post at an ungodly hour...of course, ARTERIAL is what I meant not Atrial, DUH!!!!!!!!
   — merri B.

January 26, 2001
One more interesting note..... ABG's will also let you doc know if you've been smoking against his orders. One of the Arterial Blood Gases the results will show, is Carbon Monoxide which is elevated in Smokers.
   — Laurie L.