I know this is an old thread but it came up in a google search.
100% oxygen means you are breathing pure oxygen…partial pressure is not a concern in this discussion. What is of concern is nitrogen wash out. Our body doesnt absorb nitrogen gas (not talking about nitro or nitric oxide). Since itrogen is inert it helps keep the air sacs in our lungs open. Pure oxygen eventuay washes out the nitrogen. You body absorbs the oxygen csusing the air saxks to eventually collapse. Long term exposure will resort in an absortion atelectasis…left going the lungs would eventually fully colapse and patient dies.
I forget how long it takes…sorry.
Premies who breathe too high of oxygen can get retinopathy of prematurity which can be sometimes fixed via laser surgery.
When talking percent of oxygen it is talking about percent of total partial pressure. Atmospheric is like 20.9%. So if barometric lressure is 720mmHg then the pPressure of oxygen is 150.5mmHg. Partial pressure comes most into play in higher elevations where the air is thinner and thus 20.9% has less molecules of oxygen at lower barometric pressures.
Hyperbarics is used to supersaturate the blood and body tissue with oxygen. It is done with 100% oxygen at 1-2 atmospheres of pressure. Can be used to treat a variety of things such as the bends, infections, and carbon monoxide poisoning.