endocrine and metabolic disorders
Respiratory Acidosis
Key Points
Respiratory acidosis involves a decrease in respiratory rate and/or volume (hypoventilation). Common causes include impaired respiratory drive (eg, due to drugs, medications, or CNS disease), and airflow obstruction (eg, due to asthma, COPD [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], sleep apnea, airway edema). Recognize chronic hypoventilation by the presence of metabolic compensation (elevated bicarbonate [HCO3−]) and clinical signs of tolerance (less somnolence and confusion than expected for the degree of hypercarbia). Treat the cause and provide adequate ventilation, using tracheal intubation or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation as needed. 