Hypoxemia: Difference between revisions

(Text replacement - "Category:Pulm" to "Category:Pulmonary")
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Tintinalli
Tintinalli


[[Category:Pulm]]
[[Category:Pulmonary]]

Revision as of 16:12, 22 March 2016

Background

  • Defined as PaO2 <60 mm Hg
    • Amount of oxygen available is a function of the arterial oxygen content and blood flow
  • Occurs in states of low CO, low Hb, or low SaO2 (arterial oxygen saturation)
  • Relative Hypoxemia
    • PaO2 is < expected for given level of inhaled O2 (e.g. PaO2 of 100 on FiO2 100%)
    • Can calculate amount of relative hypoxemia by A-a gradient
      • P(A-a)O2 = 145 – PaCO2 – PaO2 (normal is <10 in young, healthy pts)

Causes

  • Hypoventilation
    • Always associated w/ increased PaCO2
    • Normal A-a gradient
  • Right-to-left shunt
    • Occurs when blood enters the systemic arteries w/o traversing ventilated lung
      • Occurs with pulmonary consolidation, atelectasis
    • Hallmark is failure of arterial O2 levels to increase w/ supplemental O2 (incr A-a)
  • V/Q mismatch
    • PE, PNA, asthma, COPD
    • Improves w/ supplemental O2
    • A-a gradient increased
  • Diffusion impairment
    • Improves w/ supplemental O2
    • A-a gradient increased
  • Low inspired O2
    • Improves w/ supplemental O2
    • A-a gradient normal

Compensation

  1. Increased minute ventilation
  2. Pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction
  3. Increased sympathetic tone

Differential Diagnosis

Acute dyspnea

Emergent

Non-Emergent

Diagnosis

Management

See Also

Source

Tintinalli