Carbon Dioxide Narcosis

Authors

Michael James Drechsler, HCA HealthcareFollow
Jason Morris, HCA HealthcareFollow

Division

East Florida

Hospital

St. Lucie Medical Center

Document Type

Review Article

Publication Date

12-17-2019

Keywords

Hypercapnia, CO2, coma, COPD, lung diseases

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine | Pulmonology

Abstract

Hypercapnia, a state of elevated serum carbon dioxide (CO2), can manifest as a broad spectrum of disease, the most severe of which is CO2 narcosis. The delineating feature of CO2 narcosis is a depressed level of consciousness. It is essential to recognize impending or current CO2 narcosis; if left untreated, it can result in coma or death. This article primarily focuses on CO2 narcosis, but it is crucial to appreciate that hypercapnia has multiple end-organ effects that contribute to the patient's deterioration. Many etiologies contribute to hypercapnia; the most commonly encountered is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Treatment is focused on fixing the underlying cause and demands an interprofessional approach to optimize patient outcomes.

Publisher or Conference

StatPearls

Recommended Citation

Drechsler M, Morris J. Carbon Dioxide Narcosis. [Updated 2019 Dec 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551620/