ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the characteristics of arterial blood gas and electrolytes in patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis with respiratory failure. METHOD: In 50 patients with severe pulmonary tuberculosis, the arterial blood gas and electrolytes were measured after the onset of respiratory failure to define the types of respiratory failure and acid-base imbalance. RESULTS: Severe pulmonary tuberculosis with respiratory failure was characterized by development of hypoxia, and the degree of hypercapnia may vary; more extensive tuberculous involvement or longer disease course suggest greater chance of type II respiratory failure. Increment of the anion gap occurred irrespective of the pH value. CONCLUSION: Analysis of arterial blood gas and electrolytes may help monitor the progression of severe pulmonary tuberculosis and provides valuable information for implementing treatment and making prognostic decisions.
Subject(s)
Acid-Base Imbalance/blood , Electrolytes/metabolism , Respiratory Insufficiency/blood , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/blood , Acid-Base Imbalance/etiology , Adult , Aged , Blood Gas Analysis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the reason of delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. METHOD: The clinical data of 458 patients pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing treatment between January 1999 and December 2003 in our hospital were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The reasons for delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis are as follows: A careless attitude towards health condition by patients themselves; neglected bacteriological evidence or ignorance of tuberculosis by physicians.
