KYJ22- Ischaemic Hypoxia
Part 4 of our 4 part miniseries on poor cellular oxygenation (Hypoxia).
This final episode looks at hypoxia as a result of Ischaemia.
Ischaemia is a multifaceted term. It refers to a lack of blood flow to tissues whose cells subsequently become hypoxic.
In Ischaemia, the blood has enough oxygen in it, but for one or more reasons, the blood flow is reduced or obstructed, and can't reach distal cells/organs.
Excellent examples of Ischaemia include coronary arterial blockage that we know of as Myocardial Infarction (MI). Classically in MI, the patients blood is well oxygenated, but a fibrin clot has blocked blood flow , so down stream cardiac tissue becomes hypoxic or ischaemic.
Another example might be a CVA where a clot occluded a cerebral vessel effectively cutting off oxygen delivery to a section of brain. A third example is a DVT. Finally a crush injury or compressive force applied to a body part, restricts blood flow and therefore oxygenation of tissues. Such is the mechanism that underpins decubitus ulcers or pressure sores.
All these hypoxic tissues are concomitantly referred to a ischaemic. Most correctly, ischaemic hypoxia.
Treatment is to identify the cause of reduced blood flow, and alleviate the blockage or compression.
Remember Hypoxia is lack of cellular oxygen:
It could be :
Cellular toxicity - Histotoxic
Low blood oxygen- Hypoxaemic
Low RBC or Hb count- Anaemic
A low blood flow- Ischaemic
But all result in dysfunction in cells.
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