Lecture 10.3: Physiological consequence of respiratory centre depression

Question 1

In acute hypoventilation, what is the response? What about in chronic?

Answer 1

Acute hypoventilation results in respiratory acidosis. In chronic, we get compensatory metabolic acidosis.

Question 2

True or false? With patients who have hypercapnoea, we give low dose O2.

Answer 2

True. We do this because their body is dependent on hypoxic drive to breath. If we give high dose O2, we can worsen their hypoxia.