Extreme hypercapnia in a fully alert patient

A patient is described with decompensated chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and extreme hypercapnia. Despite an arterial CO2 level of 160 mm Hg, the patient remained awake and alert. This indicates that CO2 narcosis is not an invariable finding in severe hypercapnia.

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChest Vol. 102; no. 4; p. 1298
Main Authors Meissner, H H, Franklin, C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.10.1992
Subjects
Aged
Humans
Hypercapnia - etiology
Hypercapnia - physiopathology
Hypercapnia - therapy
Lung Diseases, Obstructive - complications
Male
Unconsciousness - blood
Unconsciousness - physiopathology
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Summary:A patient is described with decompensated chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) and extreme hypercapnia. Despite an arterial CO2 level of 160 mm Hg, the patient remained awake and alert. This indicates that CO2 narcosis is not an invariable finding in severe hypercapnia.
ISSN:0012-3692
1931-3543
DOI:10.1378/chest.102.4.1298