Neurologic symptoms of respiratory insufficiency

Neurologic symptoms of respiratory insufficiency

What are the neurologic signs and symptoms of respiratory insufficiency? 

Neurologic features of this medical emergency result from hypoxemia and acute hypercapnia. Initial symptoms may be those of either a nocturnal or early morning headache associated with lethargy, drowsiness, inattentiveness, and irritability.

Motor signs at this stage include tremor and twitching, caused by hypercapnia-induced stimulation of sympathetic nervous system output.

More severe levels of hypoxia result in somnolence, confusion, and asterixis. Prolonged, severe hypoxia results in coma and generalized seizures.

Ocular findings include papilledema in 10% of patients, probably from hypercapnia-induced increases in intracranial pressure.

However, isolated chronic hypercapnia with PCO measurements of up to 110 mm Hg may exist without apparent neurologic symptoms or signs.

Neurologic signs and symptoms of respiratory insufficiency

  • 1. Brain/brain stem
  • 2. Spinal cord
  • 3. Peripheral nerve
  • 4. Neuromuscular junction
  • 5. Muscle
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