Oxygen therapy for sepsis and prevention of complications

Abstract

Patients with sepsis have a wide range of respiratory disorders that can be treated with oxygen therapy. Experimental data in animal sepsis models show that oxygen therapy significantly increases survival, while clinical data on the use of different oxygen therapy protocols are ambiguous. Oxygen therapy, especially hyperbaric oxygenation, in patients with sepsis can aggravate existing oxidative stress and contribute to the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation. The purpose of this article is to compare experimental and clinical data on oxygen therapy in animals and humans, to discuss factors that can influence the results of oxygen therapy for sepsis treatment in humans, and to provide some recommendations for reducing oxidative stress and preventing disseminated intravascular coagulation during oxygen therapy.

Keywords: anticoagulants; antioxidants; oxygen therapy; platelets; sepsis; thrombosis.

Figure 1.

Oxidation of plasma components, platelet activation and depletion of the antioxidant capacity of blood plasma by oxycytosis. ROS: reactive oxygen species; DIC: disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Figure 2.

Henry's law and the dissolution of oxygen in blood plasma.

Figure 3.

Gas transport by erythrocytes in normal physiology (A) and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (B).