(See SvO2 Monitoring)
1. Insure PA catheter tip is properly positioned with balloon deflated.
2. Use aseptic technique.
3. Prepare blood gas syringe:
Heparinize syringe (see A-line)
4. Remove sterile cap from the distal port of the PA catheter (place
in sterile gauze) and attache a 10 ml syringe.
5. Turn stopcock off to flush solution and on to patient.
6. Gently (< 3 ml/min) withdraw 5 ml of blood or until clear line of flush solution.
7. Turn stopcock off to all three ports, remove syringe and discard.
8. Attach the blood gas syringe (3-5cc heparinized).
9. Turn stopcock on to patient, slowly and gently withdraw desired amount
of blood (2-3cc). Rapid aspiration will contaminate the sample with
capillary blood, resulting in a false increase in SvO2.
10. Close stopcock and remove syringe and prepare for ABG analysis
