Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Acute Respiratory Failure-II01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-II

1.2K
Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
1.2K
Acute Respiratory Failure-I01:21

Acute Respiratory Failure-I

1.2K
Acute respiratory failure is a condition characterized by the inability of the lungs to perform their primary function: gas exchange. This failure leads to insufficient oxygen levels (hypoxemia) in the blood, elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), or both, causing critical impairment in organ function.
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
1.2K
Acute Respiratory Failure-III01:30

Acute Respiratory Failure-III

966
Hypercapnic respiratory failure, also known as Type 2 or ventilatory respiratory failure, is a severe condition characterized by the body's inability to effectively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the bloodstream. It leads to an arterial CO2 pressure (PaCO2) exceeding 45 mmHg and a blood pH above 7.35. This situation indicates that the body's ventilatory demand, or the ventilation needed to maintain normal PaCO2 levels, surpasses its supply or the maximum gas flow achievable without...
966
Acute Respiratory Failure-IV01:23

Acute Respiratory Failure-IV

600
Respiratory failure can manifest suddenly or gradually, characterized by a rapid decline in PaO2 and a rapid rise in PaCO2. This situation indicates a severe respiratory problem that may quickly become a life-threatening emergency. One of the early signs of hypoxemic Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) is a change in mental status due to the brain's sensitivity to oxygen levels and changes in acid-base balance. Symptoms such as restlessness, confusion, and agitation suggest inadequate oxygen...
600
Hypoxia01:23

Hypoxia

2.3K
Hypoxia is a medical condition characterized by an inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It typically manifests as a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosae, especially in fair-skinned individuals, when hemoglobin (Hb) saturation drops below 75%.
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
2.3K
Pneumothorax-I01:26

Pneumothorax-I

1.6K
A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

60 years of ARDS and the evolution of extracorporeal lung support - from ECMO to ECCO<sub>2</sub>R.

Intensive care medicine·2026
Same author

When Lungs Fail and the Heart Follows: Understanding Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Escalation in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Critical care medicine·2026
Same author

ECMO for patients with obesity: evidence and practice.

Intensive care medicine·2026
Same author

Palliative and End-of-Life Care Utilization in Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Population-Based Study.

JACC. Advances·2026
Same author

High-flow nasal cannula versus noninvasive ventilation in stabilized hypercapnic exacerbation: a physiological crossover trial.

Annals of intensive care·2026
Same author

Assessment of Respiratory Drive in the Mechanically Ventilated Patient.

Respiratory care·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Preoxygenation Techniques for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults Utilizing Oxygen Mask and Noninvasive Ventilation
07:15

Preoxygenation Techniques for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults Utilizing Oxygen Mask and Noninvasive Ventilation

Published on: December 5, 2025

407

Acute life-threatening hypoxemia during mechanical ventilation.

Thomas Piraino1, Eddy Fan

  • 1aDepartment of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton bDepartment of Respiratory Therapy, St. Michael's Hospital cDivision of Respirology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network and Sinai Health System dInterdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Current Opinion in Critical Care
|October 11, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Evidence-based management of acute life-threatening hypoxemia in mechanically ventilated patients improves oxygenation. Advanced monitoring and simple maneuvers individualize care, minimizing harm and improving outcomes for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

More Related Videos

Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
07:52

Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department

Published on: January 29, 2011

17.0K
Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice
09:29

Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice

Published on: June 11, 2020

3.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 21, 2026

Preoxygenation Techniques for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults Utilizing Oxygen Mask and Noninvasive Ventilation
07:15

Preoxygenation Techniques for Tracheal Intubation in Critically Ill Adults Utilizing Oxygen Mask and Noninvasive Ventilation

Published on: December 5, 2025

407
Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department
07:52

Expired CO2 Measurement in Intubated or Spontaneously Breathing Patients from the Emergency Department

Published on: January 29, 2011

17.0K
Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice
09:29

Continuous Video Electroencephalogram during Hypoxia-Ischemia in Neonatal Mice

Published on: June 11, 2020

3.8K

Area of Science:

  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Mechanical Ventilation

Background:

  • Acute life-threatening hypoxemia in mechanically ventilated patients often indicates severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
  • Limited treatment strategies exist to improve survival outcomes in severe ARDS.
  • Understanding spontaneous breathing effects and PEEP application is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline current evidence-based practices for managing acute hypoxemia in mechanically ventilated patients.
  • To explore methods for personalizing patient care during mechanical ventilation.
  • To highlight strategies for improving oxygenation and reducing ventilator-induced lung injury.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current evidence-based practices.
  • Analysis of physiological effects of spontaneous breathing.
  • Evaluation of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) application.
  • Assessment of advanced bedside monitoring techniques.

Main Results:

  • Severe ARDS is a common presentation of acute life-threatening hypoxemia.
  • New insights into spontaneous breathing and PEEP have emerged.
  • Advanced bedside monitoring shows promise for optimizing ventilator settings and evaluating patient response.

Conclusions:

  • An evidence-based approach is essential for managing acute hypoxemia during mechanical ventilation.
  • The primary goals are to enhance oxygenation and mitigate ventilator-induced harm.
  • Advanced monitoring and bedside maneuvers can personalize treatment and improve clinical outcomes.