Value of Blood Gas Measurement in COVID-19
According to the All-Wales COVID-19 Secondary Care Guideline, patients should be assessed for oxygenation failure using pulse oximetry on the finger or earlobe, and these saturations will guide the management of patients with COVID-19.
Blood gases should be reserved for patients who are at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure, including patients with COPD, obesity, chest wall disease and neuromuscular disease. In these cases, if the blood gas confirms the presence of hypercapnic respiratory failure (CO2 is elevated above 6.5kPa) non-invasive ventilation may be more suitable according to the All-Wales Acute NIV guideline (attached below).
Value of Blood Gas Measurement in COVID-19
According to the All-Wales COVID-19 Secondary Care Guideline, patients should be assessed for oxygenation failure using pulse oximetry on the finger or earlobe, and these saturations will guide the management of patients with COVID-19.
Blood gases should be reserved for patients who are at risk of hypercapnic respiratory failure, including patients with COPD, obesity, chest wall disease and neuromuscular disease. In these cases, if the blood gas confirms the presence of hypercapnic respiratory failure (CO2 is elevated above 6.5kPa) non-invasive ventilation may be more suitable according to the All-Wales Acute NIV guideline (attached below).
Resources
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Guideline on the Management of Oxygenation Failure on a COVID-19 Ward
The management of patients on a COVID-19 ward necessitated a separate management guideline to support frontline teams in Wales.
