A patient was admitted to the hospital with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His PO2 was 55 and PCO2 was 65. A new resident orders 54% oxygen via the venturi mask. One hour later, after the oxygen was placed, the nurse finds the patient with no respiration or pulse. She calls for a Code Blue and begins cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Why did the patient stop breathing?
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your concern. Respiratory center in brain is mediated by oxygen and carbon dioxide levels of body. So any change in these levels will cause loss of function of respiratory center. COPD patients are used to have low oxygen saturation as compare to normal individual. This low oxygen level gives respiratory Chat Doctor.  So low oxygen saturation in COPD patients, actually help them for regular breathing. In your question, that new resident have given high flow oxygen (54%) in COPD patient. So his low oxygen respiratory