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Respiratory Acidosis

Alveolar hypoventilation when it is severe will cause a rise in paCO2 . The underlying problem may be due to CNS problems, neuro-muscular problems, musculo-skeletal problems, pulmonary problems, and others such as hypothyroidism or post cardiac arrest.

Acute respiratory acidosis is accompanied by a small rise in HCO \ensuremath {_3^-} but this rise is much larger in chronic respiratory acidosis.



Adrian P. Ireland