Intubation & Ventilation Scenario 3

      
   

 

      
      A 74 year old female is admitted unconscious, GCS 3, Cheyne Stokes breathing pattern, in atrial fibrillation, BP 170/100mmHg, PCO2 70mmHg, PO2 60mmHg.
Main Problem X Main Problem
       
     

 

Solution

This patient is failing to ventilate and failing to protect her airway. A comatose patient with this breathing pattern is a brain stem stroke until otherwise proven. The cause is either a bleed (hypertension) or an embolus (atrial fibrillation). Mechanical ventilation in this circumstance is invariably futile.