Abstract

MATTOS NAVARRO, Pablo; CABALLERO URQUIETA, Angélica  and  BARTOS MIKLOS, Andrés. Blood gases and hemoglobin at high altitude. Rev. bol. ped. [online]. 2005, vol.44, n.3, pp.158-160. ISSN 1024-0675.

Hypoxia secondary to the hypobaric environment at high altitude has an effect on blood gases. Methods: packed red cell volume (PRC) and blood gases were measured on arterial blood obtained from the right radial artery from healthy children 7 to 14 days old, born of mothers who underwent pregnancy and delivery at high altitude (3,600 meters above sea level). Objective: to determine arterial oxygen saturation in healthy children 7 to 14 days of age, born at 3600 meters above sea level. Results: in a sample of 60 infants, PRC was 50 ± 7,64, similar to the values described at sea level. Oxygen saturation was 85,34 ± 10,45; compared to 95 ± 5 at sea level. The difference was statistically significant (p< 0,001) Discussion: these reference values have to be taken into account when treating young infants at high altitude, particularly those that have an illness that can modify oxygen saturation.

Keywords : new born; blood gases; packed red cell volume; hypoxic-hypobaric environment.

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