hypoxemia

(hip″ok″sē′mē-ă )

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(hī-pok″sē′mē-ă,)
[ hypo- + ²oxy- + -emia ]
Decreased oxygen tension (oxygen concentration) of arterial blood, measured by arterial oxygen partial pressures (Pao 2) values. It is sometimes associated with decreased oxygen content.

PATIENT CARE
For outpatients with chronic obstructive lung disease and oxygen saturation of less than 88%, oxygen therapy should be given to patients for home use for at least 15 hours a day. Patients who become hypoxemic when they walk or otherwise exert themselves should use portable oxygen therapy. For hospitalized patients who are hypoxemic (regardless of the underlying cause), high-flow oxygen administered by nasal cannula should be provided as the primary treatment, i.e., before noninvasive ventilation or tracheal intubation.

SEE: hypoxia; SEE: respiration
hypoxemic (hip″ok″sē′′mik )
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(hī-pok″sē′′mik), adj.

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