PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Aaron L Cortes
AU  - Chelsea M Dalessandro
AU  - Tina M Glade
AU  - Sophia A F Shirdon
AU  - Jen J Uhlir
AU  - F Herbert Douce
TI  - The Effects of Abnormal Blood Pressure on Arterial Sampler Filling Times
AID  - 10.4187/respcare.02339
DP  - 2013 Apr 16
TA  - Respiratory Care
PG  - respcare.02339
4099  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2013/04/16/respcare.02339.short
4100  - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/early/2013/04/16/respcare.02339.full
AB  - BACKGROUND: Sampler filling time begins with the initial flash of blood in the needle hub until the preset sampler volume is obtained. Previous studies have shown statistically significant differences between arterial and venous sampler filling times but included only a few patients with abnormal blood pressures. Purpose: To determine if the time required to fill a vented arterial sampler is an accurate indication of a successful arterial blood sample in adults with abnormal blood pressure. Hypotheses: MAP and arterial sampler filling time will have a negative correlation; venous sampler filling time will be significantly longer than arterial filling time. METHODS: We studied 40 subjects, 25 arterial subjects and 15 venous subjects. The arterial subjects included three groups: hypertensive, hypotensive or normal. During the arterial and venipuncture procedures, we measured sampler filling time and recorded blood volume; the PO2 of the samples was measured. Additionally, BP and SpO2 were measured for the arterial groups. We used a Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between MAP and sampler filling rate. We determined if there was a significant difference between arterial and venous groups using ANOVA with an alpha level of .05 and Tukey’s post hoc. RESULTS: The mean sampler filling times were 220.4 sec/mL for venous and 18.1sec/mL for all three arterial groups combined. There were significant differences between each mean arterial sampler filling rate and mean venous filling rate (P <.001). There were no significant differences in mean sampler filling rates between arterial subgroups (P = .997). The correlation between MAP and filling rates was 0.062 (P = .384). CONCLUSION: There is a significant difference between arterial and venous filling rates. There was no relationship between filling times and abnormal MAPs. Regardless of arterial blood pressure, arterial sampler filling time can be used as an indicator of a successful arterial puncture at the bedside.