This paper describes the development of a hand-held computer program for arterial blood gas interpretation utilizing an acid-base map. The program temperature-corrects pH, PCO2, and PO2 if desired, and calculates HCO3- and SaO2. The program, written in the conversational computer language BASIC, is derived from an established acid-base map that illustrates selected pathophysiologic limits of acid-base disorders. We describe the methodology used to derive and program the linear discriminant equations that define the boundary lines of each disturbance of the acid-base map. The program is designed to run on a second-generation hand-held computer with at least 6,000 words of memory.
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