What it means
One of the values on an arterial blood gasar-TEER-ee-ul BLUD GASA blood test from an artery that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and the blood's pH.Full entry . It shows how well oxygen moves from the lungs into the blood. It is related to, but not the same as, the oxygen saturation (SaO2 or SpO2), which shows how much of the hemoglobin carries oxygen. Values tend to be a little lower in older adults.
For the nurse
A PaO2 below 60 mm Hg [8.0 kPa] is significant hypoxemia; report it and look at the client: breathing, color, level of consciousness. Note the oxygen the client was receiving when the sample was drawn.
At a glance
| Normal range | 80–100 mm Hg [10.7–13.3 kPa] |
|---|---|
| Also written | PaO₂, partial pressure of arterial oxygen |
Related terms
oxygen
A gas in the air that every cell needs, also given as a medicine at higher amounts than room air.
arterial blood gas
A blood test from an artery that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and the blood's pH.
hypoxemia
A level of oxygen in the blood below normal.
saturation
How full something is; in nursing, usually the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is carrying oxygen.
PaCO2
The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood, measured in a blood gas test.