Hypercapnia complicating massive pulmonary embolism.
An elevated PaCO2 is distinctly unusual in pulmonary embolic disease. We report 2 patients with massive pulmonary emboli complicated by hypercapnia in the absence of underlying chronic obstructive lung disease. Profound alterations in ventilation/perfusion matching and reduced cardiac output are probable mechanisms of this gas-exchange problem.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002302:Cardiac Output; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011859:Radiography; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio