When I first came to intensive care arterial blood gases were a complete mystery to me. Acideamia, compensation and bicarbonate were all terms I did not understand. As a result I often did not know why we were treating the patient the way we were and indeed, what was actually the cause of their problems.

People would often give me a system that told me what the gas was demonstrating, but without any understanding of what was actually occurring in the body to make this so. 

So I scoured the internet and taught myself many of the key principles. As a result I can now teach a system which is easy to learn whilst also giving a deeper comprehension of the physiology behind the results.

Now I am able to interpret those gases with a deeper knowledge I am able to start my patients treatment pathway sooner.