Apnoeic Oxygenation of a Brain-Dead Patient

Apnea testing for the diagnosis of brain death

“…According to a report by Oikkonen et al. (62) apneic oxygenation could lead to profound respiratory acidosis (pH 6.72) and hypercarbia (PaCO 2 250 mmHg), but if there was no concurrent profound hypoxia (PaO 2 ≥67 mmHg), cardiac sinus rhythm and a low but reasonable arterial pressure (75/55 mmHg) was to be kept up for hours. Work performed by Orliaguet et al.…”