| A 52 year old woman developed acute dyspnoea and hypoxia two hours after rapid drainage of a large left tuberculous pleural effusion. |
| Other reasons for sudden death include cardiac dysrhythmias related to hypoxia, hyperinflation leading to air trapping, and tension pneumothorax. |
| Vascular pressor responses to hypoxia are increased in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. |
| This is a phenomenon that can be evoked by brief hypoxia exposure, promotes ventilatory stability, and protects against dysrhythmic breathing. |
| The potential value of this proactive approach to dealing with the hypoxia of high altitude is still being clarified. |
| Arterial blood gas analysis should be performed to exclude hypoxia and acidosis as contributors to pulmonary hypertension. |
