Results in severe Hypoxia
& Hypercapnia =>
Cardiopulmonary Arresst
1) De novo: Acute event that stops breathing)
2) End-result of progressive unintended hypoventilation
A) Neural unresponsiveness to
blood-gas dereangements
Signs of severe
CNS depression
B) Mechanical
obstruction/restriction to gas
flow (or ineffective ventilation)
Lung inflation:
Low Pressures
Upper airway
obstruction or
CNS depression
High Pressures
(Stiff lungs)
Pneumothorax or
Bronchospasm
3) Sign of cardiac arrest
TX: (Cause dependent)
CNS Depression
Ventilation should be
supported mechanically or
manually until cause is
identified and
amerliorated
End Anaesthesia
if cranial nerves
indicate
overdosage
IV Anesthetic Overdose:
Ventilate (DON'T
Hyperventilate) the
lungs until the drug
redistributes to
skeletal muscle
If no breathing after 5
min -> Hyperventialtion
may have cause
Hypocapnia => Reduce
Resp. rate to 2
breaths/min
Last resort: Opiod
antagonists (Naloxone) &
Analeptics (Doxapram)
Obstructed Gas Flow
Cleared or bypassed
(tracheostomy)
Vomit aspiration:
Positioned head down, (Conscious) mouth
gagged, oropharynx cleared of
material using dry swabs (held
with towel forceps or haemostats),
moistened swabs