What practice helps prevent diffusion hypoxia after nitrous oxide use?

What practice helps prevent diffusion hypoxia after nitrous oxide use?

• A. Flush Out with Pure Oxygen
• B. Administer Air
• C. Increase Carbon Dioxide
• D. Provide Humidified Air

Answer: (A)

Nitrous oxide diffuses quickly into blood and tissues, and when it’s stopped, it tends to diffuse back into the alveoli. This can dilute the alveolar oxygen and reduce the amount of oxygen available for exchange in the lungs, causing diffusion hypoxia during recovery. Giving 100% oxygen right away—flush out with pure oxygen—keeps the alveolar oxygen tension high and accelerates the clearance of nitrous oxide from the body, ensuring adequate oxygenation as you recover. Providing air or humidified air would not raise the oxygen level enough to prevent this hypoxia, and increasing carbon dioxide isn’t aimed at correcting the alveolar oxygen deficit.

Nitrous oxide diffuses quickly into blood and tissues, and when it’s stopped, it tends to diffuse back into the alveoli. This can dilute the alveolar oxygen and reduce the amount of oxygen available for exchange in the lungs, causing diffusion hypoxia during recovery. Giving 100% oxygen right away—flush out with pure oxygen—keeps the alveolar oxygen tension high and accelerates the clearance of nitrous oxide from the body, ensuring adequate oxygenation as you recover. Providing air or humidified air would not raise the oxygen level enough to prevent this hypoxia, and increasing carbon dioxide isn’t aimed at correcting the alveolar oxygen deficit.