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Respiratory Failure & Mechanical Ventilation

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oxygen-induced hypercapnia


Hello everyone, I have a question. We learned that we should avoid using high levels of oxygen with COPD patients to prevent oxygen-induced hypercapnia. Is this also true for patients who are accustomed to having high CO2 levels like if the patient has fully compensated respiratory acidosis??

Ibrahim Ameen
Ibrahim Ameen
Oct 18, 2024

I believe also hypoxic vasoconstriction mechanism play some crucial role

A beneficial shunt is driving the blood from area with least or no ventilation to area with higher capability of gas exchanged

CO2 can diffuse easier than O2

Yet when we target higher SaO2 , we see higher O2 and l more accumulation of CO2


it is definitely a beautiful complex accumulated effect of multiple involved mechanisms


Dr. Mazen shared previously an RCTS result where pt with respiratory failure have being targeted with lower SaO2 target and it was beneficial (non COPD pt)


I just wanted to share my point of view

Always looking to learn from everyone



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