Respiratory Acidosis

• low pH

• inability to blow off enough CO₂ causing rising pCO₂ and compensatory rise in bicarbonate

Causes

Reduced respiratory drive

• Cerebral

  • post-hypoxic

  • trauma

  • drugs

• Brainstem disorders

  • herniation

  • encephalitis

  • drugs - narcotics

• Upper airway problems

  • bulbar palsy

Reduced capacity to breathe

• respiratory muscle disease

  • myasthenia gravis

  • relaxant drugs

• interstitial lung disease

  • pulmonary fibrosis

• severe asthma

• bronchitis

• upper airway obstruction

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