Hypoxia chronic, oxygen therapy

Therapy is determined by the underlying cause. When the condition is secondary to hypoxia accompanying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long-term oxygen therapy improves symptoms and prognosis anticoagulation is essential when the cause is multiple pulmonary emboli. 

Mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis may develop in patients with cardiorespiratory arrest, in those with chronic lung disease who are in shock, and in metabolic acidosis patients who develop respiratory failure. This mixed disorder should be treated by responding to both the respiratory and metabolic acidosis. Improved oxygen delivery must be initiated to improve hypercarbia and hypoxia. Mechanical ventilation may be needed to reduce PaC02. During the initial stage of therapy, appropriate amounts of alkali should be given to reverse the metabolic acidosis (see section on treatment of metabolic acidosis earlier in this chapter). 

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