title: Assessing respiratory status with blood gas/pH analyzers and in vitro multiwavelength oximeters.
abstract: In this issue, we evaluate two instruments that assess the quality of respiration by analyzing blood samples: blood gas/pH analyzers (BGAs) and in vitro multiwavelength oximeters. These complementary technologies, which are being widely used together, give clinicians a more complete, accurate analysis of the patient's overall respiratory condition than is possible with a single device. Below we present a clinical overview of the purpose of both devices and their importance in assessing a patient's well-being. Following the general discussion are the individual evaluations of each device. Many technical terms used in the text and tables are defined in the Glossary and are italicized in text.
mesh_terms: D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004560:Electricity; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006804:Ergonomics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008284:Maintenance and Engineering, Hospital; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins