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?

A 56-year-old male with advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibros…

A 56-year-old male with advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis presents to the ICU in respiratory distress. He is put on high flow nasal cannula with 50 L flow, 80% FiO2. ABG obtained has a pH significant for 7.32, PaO2 of 80 mm Hg, PaCO2 of 20 mm Hg, HCO3 of 30. Given his underlying disease, what is the primary physiological aberration leading to the patient’s hypoxemia?

A 56-year-old male with 30-pack year smoking history, CAD, a…

A 56-year-old male with 30-pack year smoking history, CAD, and advanced liver disease due to alcoholic cirrhosis is being evaluated for a liver transplantation. He complains of worsening shortness of breath. His heart rate is 110/min, blood pressure is 97/64 mm Hg, respiratory rate is 32/min, and saturation 90% on 5 L/min nasal cannula. When asked to sit up in bed, the patient states that he “usually breathes better” when lying supine.  Which of the following is the MOST likely pathophysiology behind the diagnosis?

A 70-year-old male with chronic hypoxic and hypercapnic resp…

A 70-year-old male with chronic hypoxic and hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to COPD is intubated for COPD exacerbation for the last 3 days. The patient has been on pressure support for 2 hours and the blood gas shows pH 7.35/pCO2 80 mmHg/pO2 60 mmHg/CO2 35 mmol/L. The patient is awake and following commands. His endotracheal secretions are moderate, and his cough reflex is weak. His RSBI is 85. What is the next step?