High Carbon Dioxide May Hurt Lung Patients
Posted on: Saturday, 9 February 2008, 00:00 CST
Contrary to conventional wisdom, U.S. scientists found elevated levels of carbon dioxide in the blood may not help patients with acute lung disease.
It has been commonly believed that high levels of carbon dioxide or hypercapnia in the blood and lungs of patients with acute lung disease may be beneficial to them.
The excessive carbon dioxide impairs the functioning of the lungs and make it harder for the lungs to clear fluid, Dr. Jacob Sznajder of Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago said.
The study in rats and human cells, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, found high levels of carbon dioxide may contribute to the high mortality of patients with diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
This study argues toward therapies to reduce the high carbon dioxide levels of patients toward normal levels, which is not the current practice in the intensive care unit, Sznajder said.
Source: United Press International
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