investigations
Last reviewed 01/2018
- chest radiograph
- ECG - look for signs of myocardial infarction
- U and E's
- blood gases - normally low PaCO2 due to hyperventilation; usually a low PaO2
- lung function tests - not appropriate in an emergency admission:
- restrictive ventilatory impairment
- VC is reduced and the FEV1 is reduced in proportion. The forced expiratory ratio is normal or higher than normal.