HYPOXEMIA DURING HYPERBARIC-OXYGEN THERAPY

This report describes a patient with mucormycosis treated with hyperba ric oxygen therapy (HBO2). Arterial O-2 tension (PaO2) during HBO2 was considerably lower (346 mm Hg) than expected (1,500 mm Hg) due to an inadvertent right main-stem intubation, which was not otherwise clinic ally evident. This case illustrates the influence of a large right-to- left shunt (Qs/Qt) on O-2 loading during HBO2. We raise the question i f routine hyperbaric treatment protocols are adequate to raise PaO2 in patients with large Qs/Qts.