Just Wondering

Nurses General Nursing

Published

If a patient is on a venti mask at 50%, that's 15L oxygen, right? So, I am curious, if this venti mask is removed, it is possible for a patient to go into distress enough that it could possibly aid in their passing.

Am I thinking correctly? or not?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

If they are requiring a venti-mask at 50% and then go room air, their oxygen saturation would certainly drop, but despite the commonly held belief, lack of oxygen does not typically cause a patient to go into "distress".

The rapid accumulation of CO2, and/or an actual or perceived limitation in the ability to move air will trigger a fight-or-flight type distress. Decreasing oxygen saturation causes an initial intoxicating-like effect and then a progressive decrease in consciousness, but not typically distress.

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Would the rapid increase of C02 cause a death?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
13 hours ago, jschut said:

Would the rapid increase of C02 cause a death?

Yes, respiratory failure can cause death.

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Haha! I knew that... just didn’t think of the way it would happen. Thank you for making this old brain work a few more cells.... ?

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