A study in AJEM compares arterial and capillary blood gases obtained from 187 patients. The authors conclude with how it ‘appears to exist a strong correlation between samples collected from the finger tip capillaries with arterial blood samples’. Who would have thought?
Arterial and capillary blood gases from 187 ED patients were collected and compared. Indications for gas analysis were reduced LOC, sepsis, COPD, trauma and DKA
Results are in the table below. C = capillary A = Arterial. Because of capillary gas exchange, PaO2 and SaO2 will always be lower in the capillaries.
Am J Emerg Med. 2012 Nov 15.
Correlation between capillary and arterial blood gas parameters in an ED.
Heidari K, Hatamabadi H, Ansarian N, Alavi-Moghaddam M, Amini A, Safari S, Darbandsar Mazandarani P, Vafaee A.