Hypoxia

M HUSSAIN

MC 3805
 Normal Process of Oxygen
Acquiring and Utilization

Air -----------------> Lungs -------------------->Blood---------------->Tissues

ventilation diffusion transport
External respiration Int Resp
Hypoxia :

• Deficiency in either the delivery or the utilization of

oxygen at the tissue level, leading to changes in
functions, metabolisms and structures of cells and tissues
of the body.
• Hypoxia may be either generalized or local .
Hypoxia :

• Generalized hypoxia occurs in healthy people when they

ascend to high altitude.
• Hypoxia also occurs in healthy individuals when breathing
mixtures of gases with a low oxygen content, e.g. while
diving underwater
Symptoms

• Fatigue
•  Numbness
•  Tingling of extremities
•  Nausea
•  Severe headache
•  Breathlessness
Types :

•  Hypoxic Hypoxia
•  Anemic Hypoxia
•  Stagnant or Ischemic Hypoxia
•  Histotoxic Hypoxia
Hypoxic Hypoxia :

• This refers specifically to hypoxic states where

the arterial content of oxygen is insufficient

• Hypotonic hypoxia is characterized by the

decrease of PaO2 (< 60 mmHg)

Causes :

• Decreased PO2 in the inspired air

• Hypoventilation

• Diffusion abnormality

• Venous-to-arterial shunt

(tetralogy of Fallot)
Anemic Hypoxia

• Refers to decreased quantity of Hb in the blood or altered

affinity of Hb for oxygen.

• Also called Hematogenous or Isotonic Hypoxia.

Etiology :

• Quantity of Hb changed (Anemia)

• Quality of Hb changed

> ability of Hb to bind O2 ↓↓ 

• Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning

> form Carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO)

• Fe3+ poisoning

> form Methemoglobin (HbFe3+)

Stagnant hypoxia :

• Circulatory hypoxia refers to inadequate blood flow

leading to inadequate oxygenation of the tissues.
• Also called Hypokinetic Hypoxia
Etiology :

• Systemic circulation obstacle

Shock

• Local circulation obstacle

Left heart failure
Thrombosis
Arterial stenosis (narrowing)
 Histotoxic hypoxia :

• Even though the amount of oxygen delivered to tissue is

adequate, the tissue cells can not make use of the oxygen
supplied to them.
• Also called Dysoxidative Hypoxia.
Histotoxic hypoxea :
 Mitochondrial injury :
• Cyanide poisoning
• Radiation
• Bacterial toxins
• Oxygen free radical
• inhibit the function of the mitochondria

 Deficiency of B group vitamins (B2)

• Coenzymes required for oxidative phosphorylation.
Changes of Blood Oxygen Parameters in
Different Types of Hypoxia
 Effects :

• Hypoxia, if severe enough, can cause death of cells

throughout the body, but in less severe degrees it causes
principally
• (1) depressed mental activity, sometimes culminating in coma
• (2) reduced work capacity of the muscles.
 Treatment :

• Oxygen therapy
• Hyperbaric oxygen
 Oxygen therapy :

• Oxygen can be administered by-

• Placing patient’s head in a “tent” that contains air fortified with
O2.
• Allowing patient to breathe either pure O2 or high
concentrations of O2 from a mask.
• Administrating O2 through intranasal tube
• In hypoxemia O2 therapy can completely correct the depressed O2 level

Provide 100% effective therapy

• In anemic hypoxia O2 therapy moderately effective about 70%

• In stagnant hypoxia effectiveness of O2 therapy is less than 50%

• In histotoxic hypoxia O2 therapy is not useful

 Hyperbaric Oxygen :

• O2 administered at PO2 values of 2-3 atm pressure.

• Tolerated for 5 hrs.

• Oxygen toxicity if given for long period.

• In CO poisoning it is very useful.

• Treatment of gas gangrene.

Any Questions ?
Thankyou !