SIGNIFICANCE OF APPROPRIATENESS OF BLOOD GAS IN NEWBORNS HAVING RESPIRATORY DISTRESS

Objective: The primary objective of the research was the establishment of the appropriateness of blood gas analysis in the neonates diagnosed with the problem of respiratory distress. Subjects & Methods: Our research was held at the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) which is a department of Mayo Hospital Lahore. Every new-born which was hospitalized on the diagnosis of the symptoms leading to respiratory distress were made a part of the research study. We managed these neonates with as a support of respiration with oxygen. No new-born was managed with pressurized ventilation and intubation during the stay at hospital. In the available data and records of the 16 new born children hospitalized for the analysis of the blood gas were also taken in to review. Results: With an exception of two cases there was no case diagnosed with hypoxemia (PaO2 below 80 mm Hg). In the same way there were two cases who were diagnosed with the incidence of acidosis (pH below 7.30); whereas, only single case was observed with the incidence of hypercarbia (PaCO2 above 40 mm Hg). The bicarbonate measurements and the base excess among majority of the patients was observed as in the normal range. Conclusions: It was observed that the analysis of the blood gas was essentially normal in majority of the collected samples which also suggested the unnecessary and inappropriateness utilization of this costly and painful process; on the other hand, in the in the stable newborn children with the respiratory distress. On the basis of these results we also found another alternative method which a combination of the pulse oximeter was reading, clinical parameters and chest x-ray outcomes; which suggested its possible usefulness for the neonate management diagnoses with respiratory distress. The objective was to minimize and reduce the over utilization of the painful invasive procedure. Keywords: Blood gas, tachypnea, neonates, chest x-ray, pulse oximetry and non-invasive.