A 32-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department after being stuck in a malfunctioning elevator for 45 minutes. The patient says she felt extremely anxious in the closed space of the elevator and experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, generalized weakness, and blurred vision. She has no other medical conditions and takes no medications. She does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

Question

A 32-year-old woman is brought to the emergency department after being stuck in a malfunctioning elevator for 45 minutes.  The patient says she felt extremely anxious in the closed space of the elevator and experienced dizziness, shortness of breath, generalized weakness, and blurred vision.  She has no other medical conditions and takes no medications.  She does not use tobacco, alcohol, or illicit drugs.  Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Panic attacks are typically accompanied by hyperventilation, leading to hypocapnia. Cerebral blood flow is directly related to the arterial partial pressure of CO₂; therefore, hypocapnia can lead to reduced cerebral blood flow and symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion (eg, blurred vision, dizziness, lightheadedness).

A 32-Year-Old Woman Is Brought to the Emergency Department After