2013-08-20 Review of Gas Exchange & Blood Gas Transport

Question 1

giving oxygen helps more with: a) shunting b) V/Q mismatch

Answer 1

V/Q mismatch; in the case of a shunt, none of the inspired air is getting to the shunted area, so it doesn’t matter how high you raise the FIO2, none of it is getting into the blood in that area.

Question 2

What basic problems of lung function can cause arterial hypoxemia?

Answer 2

1) Low FIO2
2) perfusion of under-ventilated regions (V/Q mismatch)
3) perfusion of un-ventilated regions (shunting)