asphyxia

asphyxia /as·phyx·ia/ (as-fik´se-ah) pathological changes caused by lack of oxygen in respired air, resulting in hypoxia and hypercapnia.asphyx´ial

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fetal asphyxia  asphyxia in utero due to hypoxia.

asphyxia neonato´rum  respiratory failure in the newborn; see also respiratory distress syndrome of newborn, under syndrome.

traumatic asphyxia  that due to sudden or severe compression of the thorax or upper abdomen, or both.

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as·phyx·i·a (s-fks-)

n.

A condition in which an extreme decrease in the amount of oxygen in the body accompanied by an increase of carbon dioxide leads to loss of consciousness or death.

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Asphyxia

Lack of oxygen. In the case of cerebral palsy, lack of oxygen to the brain.

Mentioned in: Cerebral Palsy

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asphyxia

[asfik′sē·ə]

Etymology: Gk, a + sphyxis, without pulse

severe hypoxia leading to hypoxemia and hypercapnia, loss of consciousness, and, if not corrected, death. Some of the more common causes of asphyxia are drowning, electrical shock, aspiration of vomitus, lodging of a foreign body in the respiratory tract, inhalation of toxic gas or smoke, and poisoning. Oxygen and artificial ventilation are promptly administered to prevent damage to the brain. The underlying cause is then treated. See also artificial ventilation. asphyxiate, v., asphyxiated, adj.

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asphyxia [as-fik´se-ah]

pathological changes caused by lack of oxygen in respired air, resulting in a deficiency of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia) and an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood and tissues (hypercapnia). Symptoms include irregular and disturbed respirations, or a complete absence of breathing, and pallor or cyanosis. Asphyxia may occur whenever there is an interruption in the normal exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the outside air. Some common causes are drowning, electric shock, hanging, suffocation, lodging of a foreign body in the air passages, inhalation of smoke and poisonous gases, and trauma to or disease of the lungs or air passages. Treatment includes immediate remedy of the situation by artificial respiration and removal of the underlying cause whenever possible. See also suffocation. adj., adj asphyx´�ial, asphyx´iant.

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asphyxia (as·fiksˑ·ē·),

n obstruction of air flow resulting in hypoxia severe enough to cause unconsciousness, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and death, if not immediately treated.

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asphyxia (asfik´sē),

n a condition of suffocation resulting from restriction of oxygen intake and interference with the elimination of carbon dioxide.

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asphyxia

a condition due to lack of oxygen in inspired air, resulting in actual or impending cessation of apparent life. It includes lack of air to respire. See also suffocation.

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neonatal asphyxia

the fetus is deprived of air while on the birth canal and appears to have died during birth. Stimulation of respiratory movements and artificial respiration may cause respiration to resume.

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asphyxia

Physiology 1. Impaired breathing 2. A pathological state caused by the inadequate intake of O₂, with accumulation of CO₂ and hypoxia. See Autoerotic asphyxia, Sexual asphyxia.