A 65-year-old male with a history of COPD and active tobacco…
A 65-year-old male with a history of COPD and active tobacco use with no prior intubations presented to the emergency department with increased work of breathing and increased wheezing. In the emergency department, he was given stacked nebulizers and IV steroids and initiated on BIPAP. His initial blood gas demonstrated pH 7.2/ pCO2 75/ pO2 65. Following intubation, he was placed on volume control ventilation. His initial peak pressure (peak inspiratory pressure ) was 45 cm H2O, and his plateau pressure (Pplat) was 35 cm H2O. He was placed on a respiratory rate of 30, PEEP 15, FiO2 0.40 and his SpO2 was 90%. Two hours after arrival to the ICU, his ventilator starts to alarm for high pressures. His peak pressures have increased to 65 cm H2O, and his plateau pressure has increased to 55 cm H2O. His heart rate increases from 80 beats per minutes to 110, and his blood pressure drops from 110/70 to 80/50 mm Hg. His SpO2 drops to 75%. His examination is notable for continual wheezing and slight deviation of the trachea toward the left.What is the most likely cause for this acute change?