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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes No Respiration In COPD Patient After Placing Oxygen Mask?

A patient was admitted to the hospital with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His PO2 was 55 and PCO2 was 65. A new resident orders 54% oxygen via the venturi mask. One hour later, after the oxygen was placed, the nurse finds the patient with no respiration or pulse. She calls for a Code Blue and begins CPR. Explain why the patient stopped breathing.
Tue, 17 May 2016
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Pulmonologist,  's  Response
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
COPD patients are used to have low oxygen saturation as compare to normal individual.
This is due to their poor lung functions.
Brain is having respiratory center which controls breathing. This center is under influence of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of body.
In COPD patients, this respiratory drive is maintained through low oxygen and high carbon dioxide level.. So when COPD patients receive high oxygen, this respiratory drive is demolished. So their respiration will gradually stop.
This is happened to your patient because he was given high flow oxygen and because of underlying COPD, this high oxygen diminishes his respiratory drive with no respiration.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Thanks.
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What Causes No Respiration In COPD Patient After Placing Oxygen Mask?

Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern. COPD patients are used to have low oxygen saturation as compare to normal individual. This is due to their poor lung functions. Brain is having respiratory center which controls breathing. This center is under influence of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of body. In COPD patients, this respiratory drive is maintained through low oxygen and high carbon dioxide level.. So when COPD patients receive high oxygen, this respiratory drive is demolished. So their respiration will gradually stop. This is happened to your patient because he was given high flow oxygen and because of underlying COPD, this high oxygen diminishes his respiratory drive with no respiration. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Thanks.