CLINICAL SCENARIOS IN INTUBATION AND VENTILATION

A 67 year old male with a history of hypertension is admitted to the ER with palpitations: ECG demonstrates a supraventricular tachycardia (probably atrial fibrillation). He is started on a diltiazem infusion, attached to a pulse oximeter and continuous ECG monitor. 30 minutes later, he becomes confused, his heart rate is 120, BP 80/62, and SpO2 is 81%. You do a blood gas and his CO2 is 32mmHg and PO2 is 45mmHg.

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