pulmonary disorders
Hyperventilation Syndrome
Diagnosis of Hyperventilation Syndrome
Testing to exclude other diagnoses (chest x-ray, ECG, pulse oximetry) Hyperventilation syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion; the challenge is to use tests and resources judiciously to distinguish this syndrome from more serious diagnoses. Basic testing includes Pulse oximetry Chest x-ray ECG Pulse oximetry in hyperventilation syndrome shows oxygen saturation at or close to 100%. Chest x-ray is normal. ECG is done to detect cardiac ischemia, although hyperventilation syndrome itself can cause ST-segment depressions, T-wave inversions, and prolonged QT intervals. Arterial blood gas (ABG) measurements are needed when other causes of hyperventilation are suspected, such as Metabolic Acidosis . Occasionally, hyperventilation syndrome is indistinguishable from acute Pulmonary Embolism (PE) , and tests for pulmonary embolism (eg, D-dimer, ventilation/perfusion scanning, CT angiography) may be necessary. 