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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Oxygen Level Depletion In A COPD Patient?

On May 10th a 76 yr old man with COPD and had been on oxygen of 2 liters, went into hospital with pneumonia and swollen calves and feet ( he had his first visit with pulmonologist and he ordered him to the hospital immediately). He was started on 5 liters of oxygen to get oximeter to be in 90 s, now after lasic, restricted fluids, no salt and a surgery on Friday to get the stuff out of his lungs. He is now on 9 liters of oxygen. The oxygen is going up and up (it was 7 yesterday).The surgery was last Friday. We doing know what is going on. We have been told not to worry but this man has been going down hill for over 10 months (losing weight and strength etc but was being treated by GP). Can you give us any indication about this
posted on Sun, 21 May 2017
Twitter Sat, 15 Sep 2018 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 18 Sep 2018 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Based on his swelling and treatment with Lasix, it sounds like he also has congestive heart failure, in addition to COPD and pneumonia. The surgery sounds like it would have been a thoracentesis to remove some of the fluid from around his lung. If he is now needing 9 liters of oxygen, I would consider this patient to be in serious condition, and possibly needing intubation soon, meaning they may need to put a tube down his windpipe and let a machine help him to breath. However, with his multiple medical problems, if intubated it is hard to know if he would recover.

I'm sorry to have to tell you all this, but this is my honest opinion. I would ask his doctors what their honest evaluation is, and especially to discuss whether he wants to be intubated or not if the need should arise.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Aaron Branch,
General & Family Physician
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What Causes Oxygen Level Depletion In A COPD Patient?

Hi, Based on his swelling and treatment with Lasix, it sounds like he also has congestive heart failure, in addition to COPD and pneumonia. The surgery sounds like it would have been a thoracentesis to remove some of the fluid from around his lung. If he is now needing 9 liters of oxygen, I would consider this patient to be in serious condition, and possibly needing intubation soon, meaning they may need to put a tube down his windpipe and let a machine help him to breath. However, with his multiple medical problems, if intubated it is hard to know if he would recover. I m sorry to have to tell you all this, but this is my honest opinion. I would ask his doctors what their honest evaluation is, and especially to discuss whether he wants to be intubated or not if the need should arise. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Aaron Branch, General & Family Physician