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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.

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