Differential Diagnosis
Neuromuscular disorders that decrease breathing, as produced by brain stem injury, myasthenia gravis, and poliomyelitis
If sufficiently severe, multiple non-neuromuscular causes of impaired ventilation, perfusion, or gas diffusion produced by embolism, infection, selected cancers, asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.
Suggested Additional Lab Testing
Serial blood gases to assess arterial pH, arterial pco2 and arterial h2co3 are important to determine the severity and progression of disorders producing respiratory acidosis.
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Clinical Considerations
Any neuromuscular disorder or non-neuromuscular disorder leading to respiratory acidosis must be specifically identified from clinical signs and symptoms and other diagnostic tests.
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