This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Blood gases in pink puffers

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

hyperventilation with poor gas exchange

  • PIO2 = 20
  • PaO2 = 8
  • PaCO2 = 3.5
  • PIO2 - (PaO2+PaCO2) = 8.5

normal:

  • PIO2 = 20
  • PaO2 = 13.3 (12-14)
  • PaCO2 = 5.3 (5-6)
  • PIO2 - (PaO2+PaCO2) = 1.4 (less than 2.5)

This is a situation caused by parenchymal lung disease in which there is a poor gas exchange. The overactive stimulation to breathe comes not from the PaCO2, which is low, but is probably a result of stimulation of J receptors in the lung - i.e. it is a neurogenic phenomenon.

A similar picture develops in asthma, this time in an airways disease as a result of stimulation of irritant receptors.

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.