Physiology - Arterial Hypoxaemia Continued Flashcards
What does arterial hypoxaemia mean?
Oxygen cannot be delivered to cells
What mechanisms cause arterial hypoxaemia?
Reduced PB or FIO2 Hypoventilation Impaired diffusion Shunt V/Q mismatch
What are the three gas exchange problems?
Impaired diffusion
Shunt
V/Q mismatch
What causes reduced PB or FIO2
Oxygen is not there (e.g. top of mount Everest)
What happens in hypoventilation?
Raise carbon dioxide levels
Decrease oxygen levels
What causes hypoventilation?
High work of breathing - compliance/airways resistance
Damage to chest wall or fatigue/paralysis of resp muscles
Respiratory depressants - morphine/barbiturates
Sleep (relative)
What are key things to remember about hypoventilation?
Always increases the PaCO2
Decreases PO2 unless additional oxygen is inspired
How is hypoxaemia reversible in hypoventilation and why?
Add oxygen
- less air entering the alveoli but if that air is richer in oxygen then the amount of oxygen delivered to the alveoli and available for gas transfer to blood is increased
- BUT IT DOES NOT FIX THE CARBON DIOXIDE EXCESS
Name the two types of respiratory failure.
Type I - PaO2 low, PaCO2 normal
Type II - PaO2 low, PaCO2 high
Explain Type I Resp failure.
PaO2 low, PaCO2 normal
Gas exchange problems - V/Q, shunt e.g. pneumonia, pulmonary oedema
Does not involve ventilation
Describe Type II Resp failure.
Both PaO2 and PaCO2 low.
Ventilatory failure e.g. chronic bronchitis, emphysema
Can both Type I and Type II resp failure occur?
Yes
What does hypoventilation lead to?
Hypercapnia
What does hyperventilation lead to?
Hypocapnia
What problems does hypercapnia give rise to?
pH problems due to altering the PCO2
List the important equation showing how CO2 can alter the pH.
CO2 + H20 H2CO3 H+ + HCO3-
Describe what happens if less ventilation (hypoventilation occurs).
Less ventilation
CO2 not removed –> accumulates
Equation shifts to the right –> excess H+ (decrease in pH)
Respiratory acidosis
What does hypoventilation lead to?
Respiratory acidosis
What happens if there is too much ventilation (hyperventilation)?
Too much ventilation
Extra CO2 removed
Equation shifts to the left –> decreased H+ (increase in pH)
Respiratory alkalosis
Describe the compensatory actions for respiratory control of CO2.
Renal control of HCO3 levels
Integrated response - lungs/kidneys work together to compensate for pH abnormalities
What compensates for respiratory acidosis/alkalosis?
Renal compensation
What compensates for metabolic acidosis/alkalosis?
Respiratory compensation