Blood Gas Analysis

Blood gas analysis is commonly used in our setting as a prognostic tool to evaluate the

partial pressures of gas and acid-base content in the blood of patients undergoing H.E.L.P.

apheresis. The use of blood gas analysis enables us to understand any related respiratory,

circulatory, and metabolic disorders. Blood gas analysis is performed on blood obtained from

anywhere in the circulatory system (artery, vein, or capillary). An arterial blood gas analysis assesses a patient's partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) and carbon dioxide (pCO2). pO2 provides information on the oxygenation status, whereas pCO2 offers information on the ventilation status (chronic or acute respiratory failure). Although oxygenation and ventilation can be assessed non-invasive via pulse oximetry and end-tidal carbon dioxide monitoring respectively, arterial blood gas analysis is the standard procedure. While many diseases are evaluated using an arterial blood gas analysis, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), severe sepsis, septic shock, hypovolaemic shock, diabetic keto-acidosis, renal tubular acidosis, acute respiratory failure, heart failure, cardiac arrest, asthma, and inborn errors of metabolism, we perform this test to assess the endothelial injury relayed as an alteration in blood gases. These alterations are expected in the hyper-coagulable state present in Long COVID and post-COVID-19 vaccine syndrome with associated CVS adverse reactions. (Source)