Lab Values and Meanings for Pediatrics

Ability to Ventilate and ability to transport the items being ventilated ie O2 or PCO2.

• Oxygen (O2)
• Healthy person should be >95%
• Compromised individuals (ie smokers, actively asthmatic...) should be above 90%.
• Always check your sensor for accuracy.
• does the patient look like they are at 60%....or are they pink with no distress.
• is the sensor properly placed..ie sensors should be perpendicular to each other
• is the patient causing artifact ie wiggling
• try testing it on yourself/comparing to another sensor. If it is not working correctly label appropriately and notify proper people.
• replace the sensor if needed.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 
• CO2 usually builds up due to the patient not ventilating well and thus not excreting the CO2.
• an Acid
• Reflects the respiratory component of acid base balance
• If the patient is acidic (pH is low) and PCO2 is high then the child is no longer compensating for the  respiratory distress.  High PCO2 is called hypercapnia.
• Hemoglobin
• Hemoglobin is a protein-iron compound in the blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all cells. Carbon monoxide can bind to hemoglobin taking oxygen's place.
• Low Hemoglobin means less oxygen picked up and taken to the body thus lower O2 levels.
• Hematocrit
• The percentage blood that is made of red blood cells.
• Less red blood cells = less hemoglobin which is in red blood cells = less O2....so watch for low O2 levels.