In this Airwayve episode, we kick off our anesthetic emergencies season with a practical look at hypoxemia and hypoxia. We review the oxygen cascade, the A–a gradient, and how oxygen is transported in blood, then clarify the difference between hypoxemia and tissue hypoxia through the lens of oxygen delivery and consumption. We break down the five major causes of hypoxemia and share a stepwise approach to troubleshooting intraoperative desaturation, from patient assessment to circuit and monitor checks. A clinical case of a patient with COPD and obesity ties everything together, highlighting how physiology guides real time anesthetic management.

Credits

Writer: Iliya Khakban

Editors: Alexander Xiang

Resident Editor: Kesikan Jayaraj

Staff Reviewer: Dr. Muhammad Imran Khan

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