RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Comparison of different methods for measurement of electrolytes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 262
OP 267
DO 10.15537/smj.2016.3.13539
VO 37
IS 3
A1 Sinan Yılmaz
A1 Hilal B. Uysal
A1 Mücahit Avcil
A1 Mustafa Yılmaz
A1 Bekir Dağlı
A1 Murat Bakış
A1 Imran K. Ömürlü
YR 2016
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/37/3/262.abstract
AB Objectives: To investigate whether electrolyte levels measured by using blood gas analyzers (ABG) and auto-analyzers (AA) are equivalent and can be used interchangeably.Methods: This observational prospective study was conducted in 100 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey, between March and August 2014. Samples for both AA and ABG analyzers were collected simultaneously from invasive arterial catheters of patients. The electrolyte levels were measured by using 2 methods.Results: The mean sodium level measured by ABG was 136.1±6.3 mmol/L and 137.8±5.4 mmol/L for AA (p=0.001). The Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.561 (p<0.001). The Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement were -9.4 to 12.6 mmol/L. The mean potassium levels measured by ABG was 3.4±0.7 mmol/L and AA was 3.8±0.7 mmol/L (p=0.001). The Bland-Altman comparison limits were -0.58 to 1.24 and the associated Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.812 (p<0.001).Conclusion: The results of the 2 analyzing methods, in terms of sodium, were not equivalent and could not be used interchangeably. However, according to the statistical analyses results, by including, but not blindly trusting these findings, urgent and vital decisions could be made by the potassium levels obtained from the BGA, but a simultaneous follow-up sample had to be sent to the central laboratory for confirmation.