Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy
Hypercapnic respiratory failure is a frequently encountered medical emergency. Two common causes are acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and as a side effect of opioids. The two causes may coexist leading to diagnostic confusion and consequent delay in optimal managem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Critical Care |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/562319 |
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| _version_ | 1832548728988237824 |
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| author | Martin Steynor Andrew MacDuff |
| author_facet | Martin Steynor Andrew MacDuff |
| author_sort | Martin Steynor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hypercapnic respiratory failure is a frequently encountered medical emergency. Two common causes are acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and as a side effect of opioids. The two causes may coexist leading to diagnostic confusion and consequent delay in optimal management. We report a case of what was initially thought to be an exacerbation of COPD. The patient failed to improve with treatment as expected which led to the empirical administration of naloxone resulting in a dramatic reversal of her respiratory failure. The patient was subsequently discovered to be taking regular dihydrocodeine for chronic back pain. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-33b278d3c2b04093bf899f50b21d6333 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6420 2090-6439 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Critical Care |
| spelling | doaj-art-33b278d3c2b04093bf899f50b21d63332025-02-03T06:13:12ZengWileyCase Reports in Critical Care2090-64202090-64392015-01-01201510.1155/2015/562319562319Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate TherapyMartin Steynor0Andrew MacDuff1Royal Stoke University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6QG, UKRoyal Stoke University Hospital, Newcastle Road, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 6QG, UKHypercapnic respiratory failure is a frequently encountered medical emergency. Two common causes are acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and as a side effect of opioids. The two causes may coexist leading to diagnostic confusion and consequent delay in optimal management. We report a case of what was initially thought to be an exacerbation of COPD. The patient failed to improve with treatment as expected which led to the empirical administration of naloxone resulting in a dramatic reversal of her respiratory failure. The patient was subsequently discovered to be taking regular dihydrocodeine for chronic back pain.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/562319 |
| spellingShingle | Martin Steynor Andrew MacDuff Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy Case Reports in Critical Care |
| title | Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy |
| title_full | Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy |
| title_fullStr | Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy |
| title_short | Always Consider the Possibility of Opioid Induced Respiratory Depression in Patients Presenting with Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure Who Fail to Improve as Expected with Appropriate Therapy |
| title_sort | always consider the possibility of opioid induced respiratory depression in patients presenting with hypercapnic respiratory failure who fail to improve as expected with appropriate therapy |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/562319 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martinsteynor alwaysconsiderthepossibilityofopioidinducedrespiratorydepressioninpatientspresentingwithhypercapnicrespiratoryfailurewhofailtoimproveasexpectedwithappropriatetherapy AT andrewmacduff alwaysconsiderthepossibilityofopioidinducedrespiratorydepressioninpatientspresentingwithhypercapnicrespiratoryfailurewhofailtoimproveasexpectedwithappropriatetherapy |