title: Acute carbon dioxide narcosis during inhalational therapy with oxygen powered nebulizers in patients with chronic airflow limitation.
abstract: Six patients with acute carbon dioxide narcosis following nebulised salbutamol therapy were described. They had chronic obstructive airflow disease and were admitted in acute respiratory failure. The patients were treated with aerosolized salbutamol delivered from oxygen powered nebulizers. They developed severe acute hypercapnia. Five of the six patients died. The hazards of indiscriminate oxygen use in this clinical situation was discussed.
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000368:Aged; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000209:etiology*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000420:Albuterol