1. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Diagnostic
criteria
• Obesity with BMI ≥30 kg/m2
• Awake daytime hypercapnia (PaCO2 >45 mm Hg)
• No alternate cause of hypoventilation
Workup
• ABG on room air (hypercapnia, normal A-a gradient)
• No intrinsic pulmonary disease on chest x-ray
• Restrictive pattern on PFTs
• Normal TSH
• Polysomnography
Treatment
• Nocturnal positive pressure ventilation as first-line therapy
• Weight loss (bariatric surgery in select cases)
• Avoidance of sedative medications
• Respiratory stimulants (eg, acetazolamide) as last resort