Interpreting blood gas results involves understanding the relationship between pH, PaO2, PaCO2, and HCO3-. A step-by-step approach is often used: 1. Assess the pH: Determine if the blood is acidic (pH 7.45). 2. Evaluate PaCO2 and HCO3-: Identify if the primary disturbance is respiratory (PaCO2) or metabolic (HCO3-). 3. Check for Compensation: Assess if the body is attempting to compensate for the primary disturbance by adjusting the other parameter (e.g., metabolic compensation for respiratory acidosis).
