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Severe hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis during pressure‐support ventilation: report of a hazard
Author(s) -
Chui P. T.,
Joynt G. M.,
Oh T. E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1995.tb05932.x
Subject(s) - hyperventilation , medicine , respiratory alkalosis , ventilation (architecture) , anesthesia , respiratory system , complication , intensive care medicine , surgery , mechanical engineering , metabolic acidosis , engineering
Summary A 53‐year‐old woman with a flaccid quadriparesis developed severe hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis during pressure‐support ventilation. A gas leak in the ventilator system caused a loss of positive end‐expiratory pressure and autocycling of the ventilator. Large ventilator breaths were then delivered because a high level of pressure support was set in a patient with low respiratory impedance. The complication is rare and its occurrence requires a combination of patient and equipment factors. Awareness of the responsible factors will promote detection and prevention of the hazard.