-> The portable ABG analyzers, such as the Irma and I-Stat, are hand
-> held, have a disposable analysis cartrige, and are fairly fast and
-> accurate. Right now, their main use is for faster response time in
-> emergency situations in the hospital - for example they can be taken
-> to a code blue.
 
Yes, that would be nice. I don't know about the level 2 trauma centers
around Dallas/Ft. Worth, but the smaller hospitals I've worked for had
sad stat lab times. The trend is to equip the E.R. with it's own
separate lab right in the E.R., but the port. ABGs would be awesome.
 
-> But I'm not sure how useful they would be on an ambulance... my
-> inclination is that the results would not alter your interventions
->  
Maybe not. Maybe in long-distance transfers over 10 hours (many of
which I've done) ABGs would be nice, but probably not totally
neccessary.
 
Are there any services who carry .... mind blank .... shoot .... the
things that you can take a B/P with that "hear" the pulse for you?
Magnify the sound.... WHY CAN'T I THINK OF IT? Geez. Anyways, if you
can figure out what I'm talking about, do they work on an ambulance or
is the noise in the box too loud and ends up interfering with it?
Whatever IT is called!
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