Arterial gas tensions, alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient, arterial oxygen saturation, and pH in the 142 patients without and the 21 patients with hepatic encephalopathy
| Patients without encephalopathy | Patients with encepathopathy | ||||
| Child class A (n=41) | Child class B (n=57) | Child class C (n=44) | Child classes B and C (n=21) | ||
| Arterial O2 tension (Po 2) (kPa) (9.6–13.7)5-152 | 11.3 (9.0–15.0) | 10.8 (8.1–14.6) | 10.6 (8.0–16.3)* | 10.6 (5.5–15.7)* | |
| Arterial O2 saturation (So 2) (%) (92–99)5-152 | 96 (92–100) | 96 (90–100) | 96 (91–100) | 93 (68–98) | |
| Alveolar-arterial O2 gradient (AaPo 2) (kPa) | 2.6 (0–4.9) | 3.4 (0–5.8)* | 3.9 (0–6.5)* | 4.5 (0–10.5)* | |
| Arterial CO2 tension (Pco 2) (kPa) (4.7–6.0)5-152 | 4.93 (3.38–6.20) | 4.70 (3.60–5.80) | 4.45 (3.30–5.50)* † | 4.46 (2.40–8.80)* | |
| Arterial pH (units) (7.36–7.44)5-152 | 7.40 (7.33–7.47) | 7.43 (7.34–7.50) | 7.45 (7.37–7.53)* † | 7.45 (7.23–7.63)* | |
Results are expressed as mean (range).
Significance of differences between groups: *p<0.05 vChild class A; †p<0.05 v Child class B.
↵5-152 Normal values are given in parentheses.