I am looking for some help trying to solve a problem with a family
member who is experiencing sudden repeated onset of carbon dioxide
narcosis. If this is not the appropriate forum to post this query,
please would you make suggestions as to where to post as the intention
is not to offend but to get help ASAP. The excellent team of doctors at
our Toronto hospital are completely stumped as to the reason for the
narcosis recurrence.

My father has been diagnosed with COPD and was admitted to emerg in
early Dec. 04 with soaring CO2 levels over 100. Over the next six
weeks, he was intubated seven times (self-extubated twice) and
diagnosed with sleep apnea.Even though his oxygen sat levels were
generally pretty good (around 97%) his CO2 levels were up and down like
a toilet seat at a mixed party.

A Bipap didn't work for him, he acquired MRSA pneumonia in the hospital
which he still has and three weeks ago he had a tracheotomy. Things
were going slowly uphill: stable O2, CO2 in the low sixties, secretions
fairly heavy but stable, breathing on his own with some oxygen support,
no venting,  and then he was transferred to a step down ward yesterday
and only had 50% O2 through his trach tube and suddenly this afternoon
he crashed again--CO2 above 100.

He has had fairly consistent arrythmia throughout this whole situation
which we are told is "normal" and not particularly problematic compared
to his other issues. He resumed his Quinidine through his gastric tube
four days ago with no apparent problems, and he's been on lasiks to
reduce leg swelling.

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated. We lost our mum to cancer
in October and we'd like to keep Dad around as long as possible

Lizzie