The Cambridge Guide To Abg Interpretation

Build understanding and confidently interpret complex ABG reports

What you'll learn

Understand how to perform an ABG, its indications, and utility

Understand an intuitive, standardised approach to interpretation of blood gas reports

Understand the biochemistry and physiology underlying important blood gas abnormalities

Confidently interpret complex blood gas reports

Requirements

Understanding of basic biology and chemistry - pH, concentrations, chemical reactions

Description

Are you confused by ABGs? Feel like there's no easy way in? Mixing up your acidoses and your alkaloses?This course is aimed at all healthcare students and also any healthcare professionals who want to build their understanding of ABGs and build their confidence in interpreting them and making diagnoses.When I was first taught about ABGs, I was taught by senior doctors who didn't understand what I did and didn't need to know. I developed this system for ABG interpretation and I have taught it to many other students at the University of Cambridge.It works by building a first-principles understanding of what ABGs are, how they are performed, and the physiology underlying all the ABG abnormalities we might encounter. This allows us to intuitively understand the most confusing elements of ABGs, without having to rely on mnemonics and quick tricks. Patients don't fit into textbook definitions a lot of the time, and these shortcuts often fail in real life. Only by a deep, true understanding can we confidently tackle any ABG in or out of the exam hall.Course structure:What is an ABG?How do we perform an ABG?What does the ABG report tell us?How to systematically interpret an ABG?ContextGas ExchangeAcid-Base BalanceWorked Example of ABG InterpretationPractice exam: five examples of full ABG interpretations testing the whole courseA deep dive into metabolic acidosisUnderstanding and classifying the causes of metabolic acidosisRenal tubular acidosis explained

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction

Lecture 2 Objectives

Section 2: ABG Basics

Lecture 3 What are ABGs and why do we do them?

Lecture 4 How to perform an ABG

Lecture 5 What does the ABG report tell us?

Section 3: Systematic interpretation of the ABG report

Lecture 6 Contextual Information

Lecture 7 Gas Exchange

Lecture 8 Acid-Base Balance and pH

Lecture 9 Full Worked Example

Section 4: Quiz

Section 5: Metabolic Acidosis - A Deep Dive

Lecture 10 Classifying Causes of Metabolic Acidosis

Lecture 11 Renal Tubular Acidosis

All healthcare students and professionals