In anticholinesterase poisoning, adequate tissue oxygenation is essential before administering atropine.

Although the measurements are still widely discussed, they give an idea of tissue oxygenation in various conditions.

Hypoxemia due to low SaO is indicated by cyanosis, but oxygen saturation does not directly reflect tissue oxygenation.

Oxygen is essential for cell metabolism, and in turn, tissue oxygenation is essential for all normal physiological functions.

Of course, restrictive protocol is not an option with some especially vulnerable patients who may require the best possible efforts to rapidly restore tissue oxygenation.

Measures must be taken to prevent infection and maintain normal tissue oxygenation.

With red cells, this can decrease viability and ability for tissue oxygenation.

Maintaining adequate tissue oxygenation is a principal target.

With enough blood loss, ultimately red blood cell levels drop too low for adequate tissue oxygenation, even if volume expanders maintain circulatory volume.

However in some circumstances, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can maintain adequate tissue oxygenation even if red blood cell levels are below normal life-sustaining levels.