What type of patients with severe flow limitation an $ \dot{V}_{A} /\dot {Q} c $ mismatch may be unable to increase their overall alveolar ventilation enough to sustain a normal PaCO₂?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If ventilation-perfusion mismatch involves a large number of the lung's alveoli, as it does in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), patients may not be able to increase their overall alveolar ventilation enough to sustain a normal PaCO₂. These patients cannot ventilate their small amount of normal lung tissues enough to compensate for the high PCO₂s in their diseased lung tissue. Consequently, these patients must adapt to less ventilation and allow their PaCO₂s to rise.

What Type of Patients with Severe Flow Limitation An V˙A/Q˙c \dot{V}_{A} /\dot {Q} c V˙A​/Q˙​c

What Type of Patients with Severe Flow Limitation An $\dot{V}_{A} /\dot {Q} c$