Clinical assessment of intraarterial blood gas monitor accuracy

The accuracy of intraarterial blood gas monitoring (IABGM) devices is challenging to assess under routine clinical conditions. When comparing discrete measurements by blood gas analyzer (BGA) to IABGM values, it is important that the BGA determinations (reference method) be as accurate as possible. In vitro decay of gas tensions caused by delay in BGA analysis is particularly problematic for specimens with high arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) values. Clinical instability of blood gases in the acutely ill patient may cause disagreement between BGA and IABGM values because of IABGM response time lag, particularly in the measurement of arterial blood carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). We recommend that clinical assessments of IABGM accuracy by comparison with BGA use multiple bedside BGA instruments, and that blood sampling only occur during periods when IABGM values appear stable.