J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  1998 Jun;9(2):264-270.

A Study of Hyperventilation Syndrome in Emergency Department

• Yoon YC
• Kim WY
• Lee KH
• Jeon BM
• Kim KH
• Kim HY

Abstract

One hundred patients with hyperventilation syndrome presenting to emergency department(ED) were studied. Those were diagnosed on clinical basis by emergency medical physician. The male to female ratio was 15 : 85. In monthly distribution, the numbers of patients were increased during the two months, June and July. The 41% of patients visited the emergency center from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.. The most common predisposing factors were the domestic problems, especially those between husband and wife(37%). Presenting complaints were dyspnea(34), paresthesia(30), muscle spasm(24), dizziness(6) and palpitation(6 patients). The initial examination of the patients in the ED were as follows, systolic blood pressure(134+/-7.15mmHg), heart rate(87.67+/-14.34/minute), respiratory rate(22.21+/-3.34/minute) and body temperature(36.61+/-0.31 degrees C, n=98). Arterial blood gas analysis showed alkalemia(pH 7.51+/-0.09) and hypocapnia(PCO2 26.67+/-8.30mmHg). After emergency cares, including carbone dioxide re-breathing and antianxietics, most of the symptoms were disappeared. The mean duration of stay in ED was 3.27+/-0.23 hours. The most important considerations in diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome was the patients's history and the effective management was carbon dioxide rebreathing for a few minutes and antianxietics.

MeSH Terms

Blood Gas Analysis
Carbon
Carbon Dioxide
Causality
Diagnosis
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Female
Heart
Humans
Hyperventilation*
Male
Spouses
Carbon
Carbon Dioxide