Final answer:
The administration of 100 percent oxygen is used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning because it displaces the carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, allowing the hemoglobin to once again carry oxygen to tissues. Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, would not aid in this process because it does not compete with carbon monoxide for binding with hemoglobin and does not facilitate the delivery of oxygen to tissues.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Does 100% Oxygen Save a Patient from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
The administration of 100 percent oxygen is crucial in treating carbon monoxide poisoning because it helps displace carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin in the blood. Carbon monoxide has a much greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen does; it binds to hemoglobin approximately 200 times more strongly. When a patient inhales 100% oxygen, it leads to a significant increase in the partial pressure of oxygen in the blood, which in turn helps to displace carbon monoxide from the hemoglobin. The replaced hemoglobin can then again bind oxygen and carry it to the tissues, restoring the body's normal oxygen supply. This is necessary because the bond formed between carbon monoxide and hemoglobin, known as carboxyhemoglobin, prevents the blood from carrying oxygen.
Administering carbon dioxide would not be beneficial because it does not compete with carbon monoxide to bind with hemoglobin. Instead, carbon dioxide is normally carried in the blood as bicarbonate, which does not assist in releasing carbon monoxide from hemoglobin. Moreover, the delivery of oxygen to tissues is the ultimate goal in oxygen therapy, and carbon dioxide does not contribute to this process. Thus, it is the unique property of hemoglobin to strongly preferentially bind oxygen, particularly under high partial pressures provided by 100% oxygen administration, which is utilized in treating carbon monoxide poisoning.
Various medical conditions require supplemental oxygen for treatment, as oxygen is vital for respiration and energy production in the body. Illnesses such as pneumonia or conditions like shock can diminish the body's ability to absorb oxygen, making administration of oxygen-enriched air a key part of medical practice to ensure tissue oxygenation and support recovery.