Objective: We describe a patient with a prolonged and severe hypercapnia oc
curring during an episode of status asthmaticus induced by ophthalmic insti
llation of carteolol.
Setting: Prehospital Emergency Medical Service and Pulmonary Intensive Care
Unit in a university hospital.
Patient: A 35-year-old female developed an acute asthma attack while at hom
e, which required advanced life support.
Intervention: On hospital admission, arterial blood gases revealed a PaCO2
of 208 mmHg. Hypercapnia persisted with a PaCO2 of more than 190 mmHg for 1
0 h, with pH always less than 7.00. The patient was finally discharged afte
r 26 days without sequelae.
Conclusion: This case illustrates the cerebral and cardiovascular tolerance
of severe and prolonged hypercapnia associated with major acidosis.