Altitude Hypoxemia and the Arterial-to-Alveolar Oxygen Ratio
Authors: Nitin M. Apte
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1990)

Letters and Corrections1 April 1990Altitude Hypoxemia and the Arterial-to-Alveolar Oxygen RatioNitin M. Apte, MD, Dilip R. Karnad, MDNitin M. Apte, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Dilip R. Karnad, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-112-7-547 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editor: Dillard and colleagues (1) have described three equations that predict arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) at 8000 feet, which is the lowest cabin pressure permitted in commercial aircraft. They claim that addition of FEV1, m either litres or percent, to preflight PaO2 accurately predicts PaO2 at 8000 feet and may identify patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease needing inflight oxygen therapy.For a given ventilation-perfusion relation, the ratio of arterial PO2to alveolarPO2(PAO2) is constant over a wide range of oxygen concentrations in inspired air (2). It is, therefore, reasonable to assume thatPaO2G/PAO2G =PaO2Alt/PAO2Alt...References References1. Dillard T, Berg B, Rajagopal K, Dooley J, and Mehm W. Hypoxemia during air travel in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:362-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Maunder R and Hudson L. Monitoring ventilation, gas exchange, and oxygen delivery. In: Bone RC, George RB, Hudson LD, eds. Acute Respiratory Failure. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1987:305-16. Google Scholar3. Gong H, Tashkin D, Lee E, and Simmons M. Hypoxia-altitude simulation test. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;130:980-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. Henry J, Krenis L, and Cutting R. Hypoxemia during aeromedical evacuation. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1973;136:49-53. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Wasson J, Sox H, Neff R, and Goldman L. Clinical prediction rules: applications and methodological standards. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:793-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. Dillard T, Berg B, Rajagopal K, Dooley J, and Mehm W. Hypoxemia during air travel in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ann Intern Med. 1989;111:362-7. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Wasson J, Sox H, Neff R, and Goldman L. Clinical prediction rules: applications and methodological standards. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:793-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Gong H, Tashkin D, Lee E, and Simmons M. Hypoxia-altitude simulation test. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984;130:980-6. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Nitin M. Apte, MD; Dilip R. Karnad, MDAffiliations: King Edward Memorial Hospital Bombay India PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byPhysiological predictors of Hypoxic Challenge Testing (HCT) outcomes in Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)Wound healing essentials: Let there be oxygenPatología respiratoria y vuelos en aviónAir Travel and Respiratory DiseaseManaging passengers with respiratory disease planning air travel: British Thoracic Society recommendationsA nomogram for obtaining the partial pressure of oxygen in alveolar air.Air Travel and Oxygen Therapy in Cardiopulmonary Patients 1 April 1990Volume 112, Issue 7Page: 547-548KeywordsArterial partial pressure of oxygenAttentionChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseForced expiratory volume in the first second of expirationHypoxiaOxygenPartial pressure of oxygenPartial pressure of oxygen in the alveoliVentilation perfusion ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 April 1990 PDF downloadLoading ...