Anesth Analg 2017 01;124(1):146-153
From the *Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, †Clinimark Labs, Louisville, Colorado, and ‡Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina.
Extended periods of oxygen deprivation can produce acidosis, inflammation, energy failure, cell stress, or cell death. However, brief profound hypoxia (here defined as SaO2 50%-70% for approximately 10 minutes) is not associated with cardiovascular compromise and is tolerated by healthy humans without apparent ill effects. In contrast, chronic hypoxia induces a suite of adaptations and stresses that can result in either increased tolerance of hypoxia or disease, as in adaptation to altitude or in the syndrome of chronic mountain sickness. Read More