title: Arterial blood gases: a clinical review for family physicians.
abstract: Armed with just a few concepts and an arterial blood gas report, the family physician should be able to discuss the patient's acid-base balance and oxygenation in relation to his ventilation. Observed deficiencies can then be grouped into those caused by defective ventilation, gas exchange pathology in the lungs, and metabolic factors, thus facilitating more effective therapy.Example problems are provided for self-assessment. Proposed answers are discussed, allowing for differences in altitude.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Allingham