The fetal lungs are collapsed, and blood passes from the right atrium directly into the left atrium through the foramen ovale: an open conduit between the paired atria, or through the ductus arteriosus: a shunt between the pulmonary artery and the aorta.
By Deborah Leader, RN. Updated January 21, 2016. Hypercapnia is a condition that occurs when there is too much carbon dioxide in the blood. While it is sometimes caused by things such as hypoventilation or a narcotic drug overdose, a much more common cause is COPD. If you have COPD, it's important to know the hypercapnia symptoms, as well as the treatments available.
Previous studies have established spirometric criteria for arterial blood. gas analysis during acute asthmatic attacks. However. only general guide-. lines have been available regarding the need for blood gas analysis during. an 3cute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We conducted a study to determine the relationship between arterial. blood gases and splrometry m 70 emergency department patients during. jcute exacerbations of COPD. Arterial blood gas analysis and spirometry. were performed on arrival at the emergency department.