The Effect of Hypoxia–Hypercapnia on Neuropsychological Function in Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Association between hypoxemia and anemia following arthroplasty: A pilot clinical study

Hypoxia and anemia are common complications following joint arthroplasty. Whether hypoxia indicates that a patient is anemic and whether anemia causes a decline in arterial oxygen pressure accompanied by hypoxemia are not completely understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between hypoxemia and anemia following arthroplasty. A total of 135 patients who underwent arthroplasty at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital between January and May 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into five groups depending on the type of arthroplasty they had experienced: Unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA), bilateral TKA, unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA), bilateral THA or unilateral unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Perioperative peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels were assessed, and the associations between the changes in SpO2 (ΔSpO2) and hemoglobin (ΔHb) levels on the first and third postoperative days (PODs) were analyzed using Pearson's correlation test for each group. The perioperative SpO2 curves for the various groups were typically at their lowest on the day of surgery. Significant hypoxemia was observed on POD 0-2, although a stable recovery curve was observed on POD 3-5. Trends in ΔHb were observed among the 5 groups, with the lowest Hb value observed predominantly on POD 2 and 3. By POD 4 and 5 Hb levels had recovered, with a steadily and consistently increasing curve. There was no statistically significant correlation between ΔSpO2 and decrease in Hb levels (P>0.05). SpO2 levels should not serve as a clinical indicator of the incidence and severity of anemia in patients who have undergone primary arthroplasty. To a point, the degree of postoperative anemic status does not affect SpO2 levels.

[Cognitive impairment in patients with COPD: a review]

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a respiratory disease characterized by progressive and largely irreversible airway limitation and extrapulmonary problems. The prevalence of COPD increases with age. Mental health problems, including cognitive capacity limitations, occur frequently. Patients with COPD may have problems with cognitive functioning, either globally or in single cognitive domains, such as information processing, attention and concentration, memory, executive functioning and self-regulation. Possible causes are hypoxemia, hypercapnia, exacerbations and decreased physical activity. Cognitive problems in these patients may be related to structural brain abnormalities, such as gray matter pathologic changes and the loss of white matter integrity. Because of the negative impact on health and daily life, it is important to assess cognitive functioning in patients with COPD in order to optimize patient-oriented treatment and to reduce personal discomfort, hospital admissions and mortality.