THE OXYGENATION OF CONCENTRATED VERSUS NORMAL BLOODS

Abstract

Studies of the dissociation curves of normal and artificial polycythemic bloods, show no difference in the O2 tension required to produce a given saturation. When these types of blood are oxygenated by the perfused lung the normal blood becomes completely oxygenated while the concentrated blood is never fully saturated. Increasing the oxygen tension increases the saturation of the concentrated blood. The difference between the two bloods is ascribed to the greater rate at which hemoglobin in the polycythemic blood passes through the lungs, coupled with a delayed diffusion resulting from capillary dilatation.