Mailing List Archive Mailing List Archive
In a message dated 98-01-14 20:05:55 EST, you write: << If this is right then it is impossible > to achieve 100% O2 in the alveoli since you are always off gassing > at least CO2 (unless, of course, you're dead and someone has you > on a DAN O2 kit). If your dead 'clinicly', and the guy with the DAN 02 is properly doing CPR, he is evacuating CO2. The PPCO2 may even be higher than otherwise, as anaerobic oxidation has taken plasce which leads to an acidosis. If you're 'biologically' dead, yes, then maybe there will not be any CO2, but then what is the point :-)?!?! Tom >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- Now I'm not a physiologist but anaerobic respiration yields lactic acid. Is blood acidity due to lactic acid considered acidosis as is that caused by CO2 (carbonic acid) ? Surely it does not stimulate breathing as does CO2. I don't know if the receptors that sense the CO2 level monitor the lungs or the blood stream; I would think the lungs since the level of CO2 in the blood would probably be relatively constant and it is a variation that must be monitored. If there is no circulation there is nothing delivering CO2 to the alveoli from the tissues except for what feable circulation is able to be maintained by chest compressions so that the level of CO2 should drop quickly to near zero in the alveoli. Surely some will continue to diffuse through the static blood stream towards the alveoli from a distance that is increasing as CO2 is removed from the blood still in the proximity of the alveoli but I would think that ventilations with 100%O2 should be able to get you very close to 100% in the lungs with little or no accompanying circulation. I have no idea if the stimulus to breath induced by CO2 level comes into play in resusitation attempts or if the heart action must come first but I was thinking that if it did then prehaps mouth to mouth may be more condusive to restoring breathing itself. It is quite possible that getting O2 to the heart muscle is far more important and that breathing reflexes will follow naturally. There is no point really, just wanted to cover the bases in anticipation of someone comming back with the one way you could get 100% O2 into the lungs. There are a lot of bored people out there. Chuck Boone -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
Navigate by Author:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Author Search Index]
Navigate by Subject:
[Previous]
[Next]
[Subject Search Index]
[Send Reply] [Send Message with New Topic]
[Search Selection] [Mailing List Home] [Home]