THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BLOOD-GASES AND ACID-BASE BALANCE, AND THE CLINICAL STATUS OF UNCONSCIOUS AND SEMICONSCIOUS PATIENTS ON ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL

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Abstract
A series of neurosurgical patients were examined on admission to hospital and arterial blood was taken for estimation of blood-gases. Hypoxaemia and hypocapnia were frequent findings. The clinical features associated with these findings were analyzed. Hypoxaemia was related to the degree of respiratory abnormality found, the respiratory rate and the age of the patient. A formula has been derived to help predict the arterial Po2 from the clinical status. A comparison of this formula with more conventional methods of assessing hypoxaemia is made and the therapeutic implications discussed.