• Martin Rief, Michael Eichinger, Michael Eichlseder, Alexander Pichler, Gerhard Prause, Helmar Bornemann-Cimenti, and Paul Zajic.
• Division of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine 1, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
• J Emerg Med. 2024 Sep 1; 67 (3): e277e287e277-e287.

BackgroundPrehospital blood gas analysis (BGA) is an evolving field that offers the potential for early identification and management of critically ill patients. However, the utility and accuracy of prehospital BGA are subjects of ongoing debate.ObjectivesWe aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of the current literature on prehospital BGA, including its indications, methods, and feasibility.MethodsWe performed a scoping review of prehospital BGA. A thorough search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted to identify relevant studies focusing on prehospital BGA in adult patients.ResultsFifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Prehospital BGA was most frequently performed in patients in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, followed by traumatic and nontraumatic cases. The parameters most commonly analyzed were pH, pCO2, pO2, and lactate. Various sampling methods, including arterial, venous, and intraosseous, were reported for prehospital BGA. While prehospital BGA shows promise in facilitating early identification of critical patients and guiding resuscitation efforts, logistical challenges are to be considered. The handling of preclinical BGA is described as feasible and useful in most of the included studies.ConclusionPrehospital BGA holds significant potential for enhancing patient care in the prehospital setting, though technical challenges need to be considered. However, further research is required to establish optimal indications and demonstrate the benefits for prehospital BGA in specific clinical contexts.Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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