Open AccessHypercapnic respiratory failure in case of chiari 1.5 malformation: Case Report and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Viralkumar M Vasani,
Subhas Konar,
S Satish
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
indian journal of critical care medicine/indian journal of critical care medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.317
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1998-359X
pISSN - 0972-5229
DOI - 10.4103/ijccm.ijccm_179_17
Subject(s) - medicine , hypercapnia , respiratory failure , respiratory system , hypoxia (environmental) , anesthesia , fourth ventricle , oxygen tension , respiratory acidosis , respiratory arrest , surgery , acidosis , oxygen , chemistry , organic chemistry
Type 2 respiratory failure is defined as hypercapnia associated with hypoxia. Chiari 1.5 is known as herniation of the cerebellar tonsils along with brain stem and fourth ventricle. We report a 35-year-old male who presented with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (Type 2), without any preexisting neurological or respiratory abnormality. Analysis of blood gases in emergency revealed a pH of 7.12, pCO 2 of 132 mmHg, and arterial oxygen tension of 118 mm Hg. He was intubated and ventilated. Magnetic resonance imaging brain revealed herniation of the cerebellar tonsils along with brain stem and fourth ventricle. The patient underwent surgery and gradually weaned off. He was mobilized and discharged on day 6. Acute respiratory failure has not been reported with Chiari 1.5 malformation. The lesson to be learned from this case is that craniospinal pathology must be looked for in a patient with hypercapnic respiratory failure.