Correlation of Arterial and Venous pH and Bicarbonate in Patients With Renal Failure

Background and objective Blood gas analysis plays a pivotal role in the management of various respiratory and metabolic disorders. Both arterial and venous samples can be used for blood gas analysis. Arterial blood sampling is technically difficult and is associated with more complications as compared to venous sampling. Many studies have shown the correlation of arterial and venous pH and bicarbonate levels in sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and circulatory failure. But, there is a paucity of data, pertaining specifically to the correlation of arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis and venous blood gas (VBG) analysis in patients with renal failure. The objective of this study was to look for any possible correlation between arterial and venous pH and bicarbonate values in patients with renal failure. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out at a large tertiary care hospital in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Over a period of eight months, 101 patients with renal failure were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Arterial and venous samples from the patients were obtained, analyzed, and compared. Results Out of the total 101 patients, 53 (52.5%) were male while 48 (47.5%) were female. The mean age of the patients was 46.23 ±15.54 years. Mean arterial pH and venous pH were 7.35 and 7.28 respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient between arterial and venous pH was found to be 0.857 (p<0.001). The mean arterial and venous bicarbonate values were 14.47 mEq/L and 15.51 mEq/L respectively. And the Pearson correlation coefficient between arterial and venous bicarbonate was found to be 0.842 (p<0.001). Conclusion Venous pH and bicarbonate levels correlate strongly with arterial pH and bicarbonate levels, respectively, in patients with renal failure.