Drugs causing depression of the central respiratory center:
(1) opiates
(2) benzodiazepines
(3) anesthetic agents
(4) barbiturates
Conditions causing depression of the central respiratory center:
(1) stroke, especially with brainstem involvement
(2) infection
(3) brain tumor
(4) multiple sclerosis
(5) head trauma
Pulmonary disorders associated with accumulation of carbon dioxide:
(1) airway obstruction (foreign body, tumor, laryngospasm, mucus plugging, other)
(2) asthma
(3) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
(4) pneumonconiosis
(5) interstitial lung disease
(6) acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
(7) barotrauma
(8) pneumonia
(9) pneumothorax
(10) pulmonary edema
Neuromuscular disorders with impaired respiration:
(1) poliomyelitis
(2) myasthenia gravis
(3) kyphoscoliosis
(4) muscular dystrophy
(5) diaphragmatic paralysis
Reduced thoracic excursion:
(1) obesity-hypoventilation syndrome
(2) scleroderma
(3) chest constriction (coiled snake, burial, crush injury)
Conditions associated with increased carbon dioxide generation:
(1) enteral or parenteral nutrition with excess calories
Other conditions:
(1) fixed setting to mechanical ventilator
(2) cardiac arrest (unable to get venous blood to the lungs)
