Administration of pure O2 to hypoxic patients is dangerous because: (A) Apnea occurs due to hypostimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors, (B) Pulmonary edema, (C) DPG, (D) Convulsions
Answer is A. The respiratory centres maybe depressed in hypercapnic patients. Breathing may only be occurring due to the activation of peripheral chemoreceptors sensitive to the hypoxia. When pure Oxygen is given to the patients, the stimulus to the peripheral receptors is gone and may result in apnoea.