Covid hypoxia - question for professionals

[YogaLite]

If covid causes silent hypoxia, is the treatment similar to hypoxia caused by CO poisoning?

It seems to me that CO poisoning creeps up unawares and causes hypoxia too, are there any similarities in treatment of both?

Hmmm co2 poisoning is sob and low sats and then a rise in co2. You become confused and sleepy and then die.

It wouldnt just happen. If u had covid u would know u wasnt feeling well and had sob blue lips etc

The issue with CO (carbon monoxide) is that it has a higher affinity for haemaglobin than oxygen does - so it binds more easily than oxygen and forms carboxyhaemaglobin. A sats monitor cannot differentiate between the 2 and so a pt with CO poisoning will have "normal" sats despite being hypoxic (not having enough oxygen).

Covid damages the lungs which prevents gas exchange (oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange in the lungs) so the hypoxia is caused by a lack of oxygen.

@Christmasfairy2020 is describing type 2 respiratory failure associated with high carbon dioxide (CO2) rather than CO poisoning. Covid causes type 1 respiratory failure which is associated with low oxygen

Thank you both!

@choosername1234, so would oximeter detect low oxygen in someone affected by CO?

Also, is the treatment for covid hypoxia similar to CO or CO2 hypoxia?

A pulse oximeter would not detect low oxygen caused by carbon monoxide. A blood test taken from an artery would be necessary

Covid hypoxia is treated by administering oxygen until the oxygen saturations are acceptable for that individual patient

Carbon monoxide poisoning is treated with high flow oxygen to literally try to "flood" the carbon monoxide out of the patient's system

High carbon dioxide and low oxygen is more complex and requires more specialist oxygen provision which can simultaneously increase oxygen whilst helping to remove carbon dioxide

Why the interest?

Thank you, trying to understand it.