INAPPROPRIATE VENTILATION AND HYPOXEMIA AS CAUSES OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS - CONTROL OF ARRHYTHMIAS WITHOUT ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS

Severe ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias may be produced by inappropriate ventilation (hyperventilation or hypoventilation), hypoxemia or metabolic acidosis. Conventional therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs and precordial counter-shock is ineffective unless the underlying metabolic abnormalities are corrected. Nine representative patients are described and the physiologic determinants of hypoxemia and hyperventilation in the critically ill patient discussed. © 1969.