Raymond Harrison, a 64 year old male, was admitted to thehospital with fever (101.8 F), shaking chills, a nonproductivecough, and chest pains. A chest X-ray revealed extensiveaccumulation of fluid in both lungs. The patient had mildhypertension (high blood pressure) of 150/90 (normal would be120/80) and a smoking history of 275 packs per year. The patientwas cyanotic (looked blue) and in respiratory distress. Thepatient's heart rate was elevated at 100 beats per min (normalwould be 60-80 ppm).
An arterial blood gas test was performed, and the oxygensaturation of the atrial blood was 72% (normal would be 90-100%).The blood test also revealed an elevated white blood cell count.Initial treatment consisted of antibiotics and bronchodilators.
- An atrial \"blood gas test\" was performed to measure oxygenlevels. Explain why the blood was taken from an artery and not avein.
- In the blood gas test, the oxygen measurement is reported assaturation. How is the oxygen carried in the blood, and whatexactly is being saturated with oxygen.
- Why does this patient have low oxygen saturation? What ispreventing him from having saturation in the normal range?
- How does the abnormal oxygen saturation value relate to thepatient's cyanotic (blue) appearance?
- How does the abnormal oxygen saturation value related to thepatient's elevated heart rate?
