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Asthma and hemoglobinopathy: When is supplemental oxygen required?
Author(s) -
Joseph Leon,
BricknerBraun Inbal,
Pinshow Berry,
Goldberg Shmuel,
Miskin Hagit,
Picard Elie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12146
Subject(s) - medicine , pulse oximetry , hemoglobinopathy , oxygen–haemoglobin dissociation curve , supplemental oxygen , oxygen , hemoglobin , emergency department , oxygen saturation , dissociation (chemistry) , asthma , oxygen therapy , pediatrics , anesthesia , hemolytic anemia , chemistry , organic chemistry , psychiatry
Asthma is the most common reason for referral to the emergency department in childhood. In severe attacks, supplemental O 2 is given when oxygen saturation level is <90%. Described herein is the case of a child with persistent low oxygen saturation as measured on pulse oximetry ( S p O 2 ) after full clinical recovery from an asthma attack. Simultaneously, P a O 2 was normal. A diagnosis of abnormal hemoglobin with decreased oxygen affinity (hemoglobin S eattle) was made on hemoglobin electrophoresis and genetic analysis. To ascertain when supplemental oxygen was needed, an oxygen dissociation curve was plotted using the tonometer technique, and it was found that an S p O 2 of 70% is parallel to a P a O 2 of 60 mmHg. Plotting an oxygen dissociation curve is a simple reproducible method to determine when supplemental oxygen is required for a child with a hemoglobinopathy.