Anil Kumar980
Forum Senior
Topics: 15
Posts: 130
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Cardiopulmonary arrest or severe hypoventilation?
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| mdwannabe
Forum Guru
Topics: 37
Posts: 1,133
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well...acute anxiety atack with heperventilation...alkalosis...and hypoxemia...but the gradient would remain.
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| buzz
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 18
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Hi noni,
IF I am not incorrect the gradient expressed in a simple way, is PA02-Pa02 where PA02 is the alveolar oxygen conc and Pa02 is the arterial oxygen conc. i am avoiding the complicated equation given some places.
so for a normal gradient to be present inspite of hypoxemia ( decreased pa02) it has to be in combination with decreased pAo2.
so i think the major reasons for a normal gradient with hypoxemia could be either decreased o2 conc in the atmospheric air ( high altitude) or hypoventilation.
now causes of hypoventilation could be due to a wide variety of neuromuscular causes, also could be due to drug overdose or posoning leading to respiratory centre depression ( MAYBE THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IN AN EMERGENCY ROOM SETTING).
But I have a question for you guys, i am not certain what the answer is but hopefully you guys will figure it out.
so it hypoxia and hypoxemia could exactly hand in hand with each other, you should see a normal gradient, right??
in that case, should you not have a normal gradient in obstructive causes of hypoxemia ( although with an intact interstitium and alveolar-arteriolar junction to rule our diffusion problems), so should you not have a normal gradient with hypoxemia in causes like bronchial asthma or other causes of upper airway obstruction.
thanks
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| chd_guy
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 33
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noni please tell the answer
Its not Co poisoning though cause Po2 is normal in this condition but saturation is low.
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| noni
Forum Junior
Topics: 5
Posts: 40
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Hey guys,
Even I m not sure of the correct answer :roll: But what I figured out is
BARBITURATE POISONING (or any drug intoxiacation that can diminish the respiratory drive)
yes Buzz u r right!  ...very well explained.
decrease in the inspired PO2 and hypoventilation both cause hypoxemia by lowering PAO2 and therefore PaO2. In each case, gas exchange at the alveolar-capillary level occurs normally, and PAO2 - PaO2 is not elevated
also it's true for high altitude b'cos the o2 conc. is less in atmospheric air.
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| luckiest
Forum Senior
Topics: 12
Posts: 82
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Cool explaination Buss
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