Cephalic and saphenous venous blood collected by continuous heating of the paws compared with arterial blood for measurement of blood gas values in well‐perfused dogs

Abstract Background “Arterialization” of the dorsal hand vein is well‐established in human medicine, but not in veterinary medicine. Objectives To compare cephalic and saphenous venous blood collected by continuously heating the paws to 37°C (“arterialization”), with arterial blood (AB) for measurement of blood gas variables in well‐perfused dogs. Animals Eight healthy dogs. Methods Experimental study. Fore and hind paws were continuously heated to 37°C to “arterialize” cephalic and saphenous venous blood. AB and “arterialized” cephalic and saphenous venous blood (ACV and ASV, respectively) were simultaneously collected from lightly anesthetized dogs with induced metabolic and respiratory acid‐base disorders. The pH, partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and oxygen (PO2), bicarbonate concentration [HCO3−], and base excess (BE) were measured once in each state. Systolic blood pressure was maintained above 100 mm Hg. The AB, ACV, and ASV values were compared. Results The pH, [HCO3−], and BE values had no significant difference and good agreement, the PCO2 values had a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of .91‐1.00), and the PO2 values had a significant difference (P < .01) and poor agreement between AB and ACV, and between AB and ASV. The PCO2 values of ASV overestimated those of AB by ~3.0 mm Hg, which was considered within clinically allowable limits, while those of ACV were not within clinically allowable limits. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Under experimental conditions, the ASV samples were more identical to the AB samples than the ACV samples for pH, PCO2, [HCO3−], and BE values in well‐perfused dogs. The saphenous vein is suitable for “arterialization.”