Final answer:
A simple face mask, or Hudson mask, provides low-flow oxygen to increase blood oxygenation. It is used in situations like carbon monoxide poisoning where a high concentration of oxygen is needed to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.
Step-by-step explanation:
A simple face mask, often referred to as a Hudson mask, works by administering low-flow oxygen. This mask delivers a concentration of oxygen higher than atmospheric levels to assist in increasing the amount of oxygen that binds with hemoglobin in the patient’s blood. It does not maintain a specific fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) level or deliver high-flow oxygen; rather, it provides a steady, low flow of oxygen, and the actual FiO2 varies based on the patient's breathing pattern.
Regarding carbon monoxide poisoning, the administration of 100 percent oxygen is critical as it helps to displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, allowing for the formation of oxyhemoglobin. This is essential because carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin with a higher affinity than oxygen, thus disrupting oxygen transport and leading to tissue hypoxia. Breathing 100 percent oxygen effectively raises the concentration gradient of oxygen compared to carbon monoxide, thus promoting the dissociation of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin. Administering carbon dioxide would not work as it does not compete with carbon monoxide for binding to hemoglobin, and additionally, carbon dioxide is not an oxygen deliverer to the tissues.