tritrated O2 levels

[lindakay99]

can ay one help with this answer

why may an emphysema patient need tritated O2 levels? and what happens if you give high concentration of O2?

have been given a big hint this is an exam quetstion :

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

See this weeks post re: respirator mask for copd patients

[jerryh55]

Giving to high of a concetration of O2 fools the system into thinking there is more than there is and will shut the breathing process down. Most of the levels we have seen for such patients is around 2L, but have been told might see 3 but no more. Hope this helps.

Be safe

Jerry

[stn2003, RN]

COPDers like those with emphysema have what is called a "hypoxic drive". That means that their respirations are stimulated by a slightly hypoxic state, driven by the need for oxygen. If we supply them with anything more than low-level O2, their body senses all of the readily available oxygen and the hypoxic drive is suppressed- as are respirations. Putting a patient c COPD on a level of O2 higher than 2L (or possibly 3L max) will decrease respiratory rate and, if the O2 levels were high enough or prolonged enough, could send a patient into respiratory arrest.

It is also my understanding that Emphysema in its early stages begins with hypoxia and leads to hypoxia c hypercapnia- which is when O2 titration really comes into play, to deal with the hypercapnia. If a person is retaining CO2, then we want to increase respirations to blow the CO2 off, and in order to do so, may need to titrate/decrease the O2 to stimulate the hypoxic drive and thus stimulate respirations. On the other hand, if the person is blowing of too much CO2 (think hyperventilation), then we may want to titrate the O2 to a higher liter so that the hypoxic drive is slightly suppressed, and that will in turn suppress respirations and promote the retention of CO2.

Hopes this makes sense and helps : )

[Shastalee99]

COPDers like those with emphysema have what is called a "hypoxic drive". That means that their respirations are stimulated by a slightly hypoxic state, driven by the need for oxygen. If we supply them with anything more than low-level O2, their body senses all of the readily available oxygen and the hypoxic drive is suppressed- as are respirations. Putting a patient c COPD on a level of O2 higher than 2L (or possibly 3L max) will decrease respiratory rate and, if the O2 levels were high enough or prolonged enough, could send a patient into respiratory arrest.

It is also my understanding that Emphysema in its early stages begins with hypoxia and leads to hypoxia c hypercapnia- which is when O2 titration really comes into play, to deal with the hypercapnia. If a person is retaining CO2, then we want to increase respirations to blow the CO2 off, and in order to do so, may need to titrate/decrease the O2 to stimulate the hypoxic drive and thus stimulate respirations. On the other hand, if the person is blowing of too much CO2 (think hyperventilation), then we may want to titrate the O2 to a higher liter so that the hypoxic drive is slightly suppressed, and that will in turn suppress respirations and promote the retention of CO2.

Awesome explanation. We went over this yesterday in lecture. With all of the "big" terms every other word we could get her point. Thank you again!