“If you think an awake patient having normal mental status and a basic metabolic panel is available needs a blood gas, you’re wrong. You need the blood gas done on yourself because you may be brain dead.” quote from Dr. Corey Slovis (1/7) 
A few days ago I ran this poll. Most of you chose not to get an ABG. This is in fact what I did (and disappointed the consulting team) Pt had no comorbidities, and HCO3 was normal. (2/7)
Pt not on opioids and no COPD should have a preserved respiratory drive, thus hypercapnia should NOT occur unless exhaustion. Instead, I monitored my pt closely and that same evening O2sat much better. A few days later pt was discharged home. Not a single ABG was drawn. (3/7)
ABGs are painful and require increased use of PPE. Here are some excellent resources regarding the futility of most ABGs: (4/7) emcrit.org/pulmcrit/pulse…
emcrit.org/squirt/abg/ (6/7)
