In a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and long-standing hypercapnia, why is it potentially dangerous to administer high-flow supplemental oxygen?
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Correct answer: Respiratory drive may depend on hypoxic drive due to blunted CO2 sensitivity
In chronic hypercapnia, central chemoreceptors become desensitized to CO2. The respiratory drive then shifts to the peripheral chemoreceptors (hypoxic drive); providing too much oxygen can remove this stimulus, leading to respiratory depression.
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