Arterial Blood Gases

How It Feels

Collecting blood from an artery is more painful than collecting it from a vein because the arteries are deeper and are protected by nerves.

• Most people feel a brief, sharp pain as the needle to collect the blood sample enters the artery. If you are given a local anesthetic, you may feel nothing at all from the needle puncture, or you may feel a brief sting or pinch as the needle goes through the skin.
• You may feel more pain if the person drawing your blood has a hard time finding your artery, your artery is narrowed, or if you are very sensitive to pain.

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Author:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC	Last Updated July 28, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Robert L. Cowie, MB, FCP(SA), MD, MSc, MFOM - Pulmonology
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