Comparative study on arterial and venous blood gas values in the initial evaluation of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis who are visiting the Emergency Department of Rajamutaiah Medical College and Hospital

ABSTRACT

Background: DKA is the most common serious and life-threatening acute complication of diabetes. The mortality rate is currently estimated at 2% to 10% for patients hospitalized with DKA. Mortality is predominantly due to underlying morbidities, such as sepsis or acute myocardial infarction, but deaths also occur as a result of hypokalemia induced arrhythmias and cerebral edema. Aim of the study To compare arterial and venous blood gas values in the initial evaluation of patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). Materials and methods: The study was conducted in the division of emergency medicine at Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Chidambaram in the year 2017 August to February 2018. Totally 61 patients were included in the study. Both sex in the age group of 14 to 70 years whose Capillary Blood Glucose equal to or greater than 250 mg/dl, Urine ketonuria (+) were included in the study. Results: 37% of patients had >12 urine ketone levels of the patients of patients were 2+ (15 mg/dl) which was 41.0%. 39.3% of patients were 1+ (5 mg/dl) and 19.7% of patients were 3+ (40 mg/dl). All G. Balaji, R. Devi. Comparative study on arterial and venous blood gas values in the initial evaluation of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis who are visiting the Emergency Department of Rajamutaiah Medical College and Hospital. IAIM, 2019; 6(5) 160-165. Page 161 patients were ketone positive. ABG pH valune in which 60.7% of patients were between the level of 7.01 – 7.4, 39.3% of them were from 6.7 – 7.0. ABG PCO2 value in which 44.3% of patients had values from 16-25, 21.3% of patients had values between 5-15 as well as 26-35 and 13.1% of patients had values from 36-45. In which about 65.7% of patients had HCO3 levels between 12.01-17, 15.2% of patients had HCO3 levels between 7.01-12 14.1 % of patients had levels between 17.01 – 18 and 5% of them between 2-7. VBG pH in DKA, in which, 57.4% were in between 7.01 – 7.41. 41% of patients had a pH from 6.7 – 7.0 and 1.6% were between 6.03 - 6.6. VBG HCO3 in which, 62.3% of patients had HCO3 levels from 12.01-17, 24.6% had from 7.01 – 12, 11.5% were in between 2-7 and 1.6% were showing levels in between 17.01-18. Conclusion: Venous blood gas measurements accurately and fairly demonstrate the degree of acidosis in the initial evaluation of patients with Diabetic Ketoacidosis in the Emergency Department in comparison with Arterial blood gas values.