Hypoxia Flashcards
What are the different types of hypoxia?
Hypoxaemic = low paO2 due to poor oxygenation in lungs
e.g. low pO2 in atmosphere
Anaemic = decreased HbO2
e.g. reduced haemoglobin, CO poisoning
Ischaemic = oxygenated blood not reaching tissues
e.g. peripheral arterial disease
Histiocytic = inability to utilise O2
e.g. cyanide poisoning
Outline the pathway of oxygen from the air to the blood. Give examples of diseases which effect the different stages.
Air —> airways
(disease = ventilatory/pump failure)
Airways —> alveolar gas
Alveolar gas —> alveolar membrane
(disease = ventilation:perfusion mismatch)
Alveolar membrane (disease = poor diffusion across membrane)
Alveolar membrane —> arterial blood
(disease = ventilation:perfusion mismatch)
Arterial blood (disease = anaemia)
Arterial blood —> regional arteries
(disease = shock)
Regional arteries (disease = peripheral arterial disease)
Regional arteries —> capillary blood
Describe the aetiology, pathophysiology, and signs and symptoms of peripheral arterial disease.
Arterial narrowing or occlusion due to atheroma/embolism
Organs affected:
- regional artery (peripheral vascular disease)
- coronary artery (ischaemic heart disease)
- cerebellar artery (ischaemic stroke)
S&S:
- claudication (peripheral vascular disease) = pain on exercise, relieved by rest, weak/absent peripheral pulses, pale/blue discolouration, cold extremities, reduced capillary refill - assess by Doppler flow, treat with bypass
- angina (ischaemic heart disease)
- neurological deficit (ischaemic stroke)
- cyanosis = purplish discolouration of skin & mucous membranes due to the presence of desaturated Hb (present when ~1/3 of total Hb is desaturated)
Contrast central and peripheral cyanosis.
CENTRAL CYANOSIS:
- seen in tongue & oral mucosa (usually well perfused and warm)
- indicates severe arterial hypoxia
- peripheral cyanosis will usually be present as well (blood is already hypoxic when leaving the left ventricle)
note: if only one leg is affected, the cause is NOT central cyanosis (other leg is well perfused)
PERIPHERAL CYANOSIS:
- seen in extremities
- due to increased O2 extraction (more time for tissues to extract O2) caused by reduced capillary circulation
- can occur without central cyanosis (e.g. peripheral vascular disease, cold weather)
note: if all fingers are cyanosed, the cause is likely to be general (e.g. heart failure)
What is shock in general? What are the different types?
Arterial pressure is too low to perfuse all tissues
- hypovolaemic = reduced blood volume
e. g. blood loss - cardiogenic = reduced cardiac output due to pump failure
e. g. heart failure - mechanical = reduced filling of the heart due to outside obstruction
e. g. cardiac tamponade - septic = reduced peripheral resistance due to release of bacterial endotoxins
- anaphylactic = reduced peripheral resistance due to widespread release of histamine in response to environmental stimulus
Outline the pathophysiology of hypovolaemic shock.
Reduced volume —> reduced venous return —> reduced preload —> reduced cardiac output —> reduced arterial pressure
Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic reflexes cause pale, cold, clammy skin & tachycardia
Vasoconstriction in veins in legs (attempt to increase venous return) & autotransfusion (more ECF enters due to reduced hydrostatic pressure —> attempts to increase BP & therefore increase cardiac output)
Blood loss —> RBCs & plasma lost
Fluid loss via GI tract —> ECF loss only
Outline the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock.
Damage to myocardium —> heart pumps too little —> reduced arterial pressure
Baroreceptor-mediated sympathetic reflexes cause pale, cold, clammy skin & tachycardia
RAAS activation —> Na+ & water retention —> oliguria
Reduced brain perfusion causes confusion
Outline the pathophysiology of septic shock.
Endotoxins released by bacteria —> overwhelming vasodilatation (warm, red peripheries) —> reduced total peripheral resistance —> reduced arterial pressure
Outline the pathophysiology of anaphylactic shock.
Release of histamine from mast cells —> overwhelming vasodilatation —> reduced total peripheral resistance —> reduced arterial pressure
Mediators also cause bronchoconstriction & laryngeal oedema
Treated with adrenaline
What are the consequences of poor perfusion during shock?
Poorly perfused tissues —> anaerobic metabolism —> production of lactic acid —> metabolic acidosis —> tissue death —> release of vasodilator mediators —> circulatory collapse —> multiple organ failure
What is the pathophysiology of anaemia? Give some examples of causes. What are some consequences of anaemia?
Not enough haemoglobin in blood
OR RBC production rate does not match rate of RBC loss
OR carbon monoxide poisoning (binds to Hb instead of O2, so blood looks “cherry red” - therefore do not look cyanosed)
Causes:
- iron deficiency (dietary or chronic blood loss e.g. GI/colon cancer, fibroids causing menorrhagia)
- vitamin B12/folate deficiency (intrinsic factor produced by stomach & absorbed in terminal ileum)
- bone marrow disease e.g. leukaemia, aplastic anaemia
- excessive RBC breakdown e.g. sickle cell anaemia, G6PD deficiency causing haemolysis
Consequences:
- fatigue
- poor exercise tolerance
Give some examples of general causes of poor oxygenation of the blood.
Ventilatory failure (unable to move sufficient amounts of air in & out of the lungs)
- poor diffusion across alveolar membrane
- ventilation:perfusion mismatch
- combination of the above
What is the classification of respiratory failure? What are the different types?
paO2
How can the blood oxygenation be measured?
Oxygen saturation: pulse oximeter
- SaO2 should be > 95%
Arterial blood gas: arterial stab (radial artery)
note: check that ulnar artery is functional before carrying out arterial stab using Allen’s test
What should be done before carrying out an arterial blood gas?
Allen’s test (check radial artery is functioning)
Elevate hand and make fist for 30s —> apply pressure over ulnar & radial arteries to occlude both of them —> open hand whilst still elevated (should be blanched - pallor at fingernails) —> release ulnar pressure —> colour should return in 5s-15s
Negative test means you cannot safely cannulate or perform a radial arterial stab