Acidotic Hypercapnia: A Case Series of Acidosis Driven Respiratory Muscle Dysfunction

Established indications for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) include acute or acute-on-chronic type 2 respiratory failure associated with acidosis. It is commonly assumed that this acidosis is a secondary phenomenon which follows the development of acute hypercapnia. This case series describes four patients with acidotic hypercapnia (type 2 respiratory failure secondary to metabolic acidosis) demonstrated through serial arterial blood gases who were successfully treated with NIV. Acidotic hypercapnia is a relatively common under-recognized subtype of respiratory failure for which further trials are required to establish the role of NIV. J Med Cases. 2016;7(8):344-347 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc2542e