Cephalic and saphenous venous blood collected by continuous heating of the paws compared with arterial blood for measurement of blood gas values in well-perfused dogs.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: "Arterialization" of the dorsal hand vein is well-established in human medicine, but not in veterinary medicine. OBJECTIVES: To compare cephalic and saphenous venous blood collected by continuously heating the paws to 37&#xb0;C ("arterialization"), with arterial blood (AB) for measurement of blood gas variables in well-perfused dogs. ANIMALS: Eight healthy dogs. METHODS: Experimental study. Fore and hind paws were continuously heated to 37&#xb0;C to "arterialize" cephalic and saphenous venous blood. AB and "arterialized" cephalic and saphenous venous blood (ACV and ASV, respectively) were simultaneously collected from lightly anesthetized dogs with induced metabolic and respiratory acid-base disorders. The pH, partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PCO) and oxygen (PO), bicarbonate concentration [HCO], and base excess (BE) were measured once in each state. Systolic blood pressure was maintained above 100&#x2009;mm Hg. The AB, ACV, and ASV values were compared. RESULTS: The pH, [HCO], and BE values had no significant difference and good agreement, the PCOvalues had a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of .91-1.00), and the POvalues had a significant difference (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.01) and poor agreement between AB and ACV, and between AB and ASV. The PCOvalues of ASV overestimated those of AB by ~3.0&#x2009;mm Hg, which was considered within clinically allowable limits, while those of ACV were not within clinically allowable limits. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Under experimental conditions, the ASV samples were more identical to the AB samples than the ACV samples for pH, PCO, [HCO], and BE values in well-perfused dogs. The saphenous vein is suitable for "arterialization."