Revisión de valores críticos obtenidos en gasometrías realizadas en el lugar de asistencia al paciente

Resum

Introduction The identification and immediate notification of critical results is crucial to assure appropriate patient care. The Emergency Laboratory has led a POCT blood gases and electrolytes project for 10 years (17 decentralized analyzers), according to scientific societies recommendations (SEQC and NACB). The objective of this study is to review critical results of blood gases, electrolytes and metabolites determined in Point-Of-Care Testing (POCT) units and in the Emergency Laboratory (LABURG) in 2007. Material and methods Using the laboratory information system, we obtained the results of blood gases, electrolytes and metabolites carried out in POCT and LABURG (nPOCT=201.746 and nLABURG=134.839 for gases and nPOCT=278.075 and nLABURG=651.016 for electrolytes and metabolites). As critical values for each parameter we used the mean of the limits proposed by Kost in 2007. The percentages of the results above or below those limits in POCT and LABURG were calculated. Results The percentages of critical values in POCT and LABURG were: 13.68% vs. 3.39% for gases, 2.21% vs. 1.82% for electrolytes and 6.66% vs. 1.37% for metabolites. The parameters with more critical results were pO2, lactic acid and pH. Conclusions The higher percentage of critical values in POCT units compared to LABURG is due to the number critical patients seen in these units, and it supports the importance of designing and developing new laboratory projects in order to carry out these determinations at the patient bedside.