Respiratory Acidosis Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Ryland P Byrd Jr, MD; Chief Editor: Zab Mosenifar, MD   more...
 
Updated: Oct 3, 2011
 

History and Physical Examination

The clinical manifestations of respiratory acidosis are often those of the underlying disorder. Manifestations vary depending on the severity of the disorder and on the rate of development of hypercapnia. Mild to moderate hypercapnia that develops slowly usually has minimal symptoms.

Patients may be anxious and may complain of dyspnea. Some patients may have disturbed sleep and daytime hypersomnolence. As the partial arterial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) increases, the anxiety may progress to delirium, and patients become progressively more confused, somnolent, and obtunded. This condition is sometimes referred to as carbon dioxide narcosis.

Physical examination findings in patients with respiratory acidosis are usually nonspecific and are related to the underlying illness or the cause of the respiratory acidosis.

Thoracic examination of patients with obstructive lung disease may demonstrate diffuse wheezing, hyperinflation (ie, barrel chest), decreased breath sounds, hyperresonance on percussion, and prolonged expiration. Rhonchi may also be heard.

Cyanosis may be noted if accompanying hypoxemia is present. Digital clubbing may indicate the presence of a chronic respiratory tract disease or other organ system disorders.

The patient's mental status may be depressed if severe elevations of PaCO2 are present. Patients may have asterixis, myoclonus, and seizures.

Papilledema may be found during the retinal examination. Conjunctival and superficial facial blood vessels may also be dilated.

Proceed to Differential Diagnoses
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Ryland P Byrd Jr, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, Program Director of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine; Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy, James H Quillen Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Ryland P Byrd Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Thomas M Roy, MD  Chief, Division of Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Quillen Mountain Home Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, East Tennessee State University, James H Quillen College of Medicine

Thomas M Roy, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Thoracic Society, Southern Medical Association, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Oleh Wasyl Hnatiuk, MD  Program Director, National Capital Consortium, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences

Oleh Wasyl Hnatiuk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Chief Editor

Zab Mosenifar, MD  Director, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Director, Women's Guild Pulmonary Disease Institute, Professor and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine

Zab Mosenifar, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Medical Research, and American Thoracic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Jackie A Hayes, MD, FCCP, and Wael El Minaoui, MBBS,to the development and writing of the source article.

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