Deoxygenated Blood — ECG/EKG Terminology

Definition: Blood that is oxygen-poor.

Key Facts

• Venous blood with lower oxygen content returning from systemic tissues.
• Normally routed through right heart to lungs for reoxygenation.
• Systemic deoxygenation worsens myocardial oxygen supply-demand balance.

ECG Connection: Prolonged oxygen mismatch can contribute to ischemic ECG changes and arrhythmias.

Why It Matters: Telemetry interpretation should account for oxygenation status and respiratory trends.