title: Clinical Indicators of Impaired Gas Exchange in Cardiac Postoperative Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the accuracy of the defining characteristics of impaired gas exchange (IGE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study carried out in 93 cardiac postoperative adult patients. The 19 NANDA-I defining characteristics related to IGE were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten defining characteristics were found in the sample. The best accuracy values, including specificity, diagnostic odds ratio, and likelihood ratios, inter alia, were found to decreased carbon dioxide, abnormal arterial blood gases, abnormal arterial pH, and abnormal breathing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some clinical indicators predict the presence/absence of IGE more accurately than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the accuracy of defining characteristics allows an early identification of particular nursing diagnoses, which can prevent complications.
authors.affiliation: CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vanessa Emille Carvalho
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Maranhão, Imperatriz, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lívia Maia
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pascoal
authors.affiliation: Members of the Nursing Diagnosis, Interventions, and Outcomes Study Group, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talita Ferreira Oliveira
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: de Matos
authors.affiliation: Members of the Nursing Diagnosis, Interventions, and Outcomes Study Group, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ranielly Vidal
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: do Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ensino Superior do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniel Bruno Resende
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nirla Gomes
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Guedes
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Venícios de Oliveira
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013903:Thoracic Surgery
keywords: Diagnostic test; nursing diagnosis; postoperative care