Episode 947: Hypercapnia

Contributor: Taylor Lynch, MD Educational Pearls: Excessive caffeine intake can be dangerous. For normal adults, the toxicity level starts at 1000mg, which is equivalent to about 10 cups of coffee or 5 celsius drinks. For normal adults, lethal levels are about 5-10 grams, which i ...  Show more

Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD Educational Pearls: Case review of a patient with recurrent episodes of syncope and shortness of breath, during which she is found to have intermittent runs of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia Torsades de pointes is polymorphic ventricular tachyca ...  Show more

Critically unwell patients often present with inadequate oxygenation and ventilation, in this episode we're going to explore some of the physiology of critical illness, look at how we can improve oxygenation and ventilation, take a look mechanical ventilation and have a think ...

Jaquay is treating a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who complains of dyspnea during daily activities. The patient's SpO2 levels tend to drop below 88% with mild exertion. In addition to continuing with a general exercise program, which of the fol ...

What are the determinants of mean airway pressure? Is too much PEEP ever a bad thing? In this episode, we review determinants of oxygenation in mechanically ventilated patients and discuss the benefits and risks of high versus low PEEP strategies, as well as the utility of lung v ...  Show more

Oxygen is probably the drug that we give the most but possibly has the least governance over. More has got to be good except in those at high risk of type II respiratory failure right?? Well as we know the evidence base has swung to challenge that idea in recent years and the new ...  Show more