| RESPIRATORY CONDITIONS - COPD & Hypoxic drive |
| COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) |
| COPD is a general term for several lung diseases that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and chronic asthma. COPD adds to the work of the heart, since the amount of oxygen that goes to the blood may be reduced. One of the primary causes of COPD is cigarette smoking. Air pollution and occupational dusts may also contribute to COPD, especially if the person exposed to these substances is a smoker. |
| Hypoxic Drive |
|
Patients with COPD have raised CO2
levels and depend on a deficiency of oxygen (hypoxia) to stimulate respiration; This is termed
Hypoxic Drive. This is in contrast to the normal person where the
blood level of CO2 drives respiration. They have a
long history of chest disease, are cyanosed and sleepy, but are not
breathless. In these patients high dose oxygen can reduce respiration and
cause respiratory depression. They will develop increased CO2
retention,
respiratory acidosis and subsequently will require mechanical
ventilation. These patients should receive oxygen therapy, using the 24-28% mask with the flow rate at the cylinder set at 4 litres per minute. |
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