Quote:
Originally Posted by frostfire
ventilation vs. oxygenation. V/Q mismatch
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Right, specifically intrapulmonary shunt, as 11ber was referring to. It is true in a pure shunt that supplemental O2 only increases SPO2 marginally, however since there are likely more variables than a pure shunt it is worth the relative minimal risk of superoxygenation.
There is a good deal of research now looking into how aggressive we should be in the ED and even in the field on O2 titration. Recent data does suggest aggressively titrating FIO2 in many types of patients including TBI and stroke, but these studies don't warrant restriction of high flow oxygen in an unstable patient.