Oxygen FAQ
Up to date, expert answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about oxygen supply systems, respiratory care and pulse oximetry written by OCC & collaborators.
Miscellaneous
How can ARDS be diagnosed and managed when arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis is unavailable?
- Pulse oximetry and the Kigali Modification of the Berlin Criteria can be used to diagnose ARDS (Riviello et al, Am J Respir Crit Care, 2016)
- See Kigali Criteria summary on the Respiratory Care Pocket Card
- In the absence of ABGs, management of ARDS is extremely challenging. While SpO2 provides information for most patients, there are limited surrogates for assessing ventilation or acid base status, both key diagnostic information for ARDS management
- This calculator can be used to estimate P:F ratios when only SpO2 values are available