EFFECT OF OXYGEN ADMINISTRATION AT LOW RATES OF FLOW IN HYPERCAPNIC PATIENTS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The arterial blood changes produced in 22 hypercapnic patients by O2 administration by catheter at 1 1/min are reported. The O2 tension increased on an average of 13 mm. Hg. The change in O2 saturation depended on its location on the oxyhemoglobln dissociation curve. In 7 patients no difference was found in the degree of improvement in arterial oxygenation between oxygen administered by nasal catheter compared to nasal cannula. After one-half hour of O2 administration at 1 1 /min there was no significant rise in carbon dioxide tension PcO2 AtteT contlnuing [degree]2 IoT 2* hr half of the 8 patients so studied had a rise in PCO2 of more than 10 mm. Hg, and a fall in pH. When 02 administration was discontinued, the O2 saturation fell to a lower level than the pre-treatment value. It is recommended that when O2 is administered to hypercapnic patients the arterial blood gases be repeatedly monitored, especially during the early hours of O2 administration, in order to detect and correct any dangerous rise in PCO2 and fall in pH.