Case No. 2
A 17-year-old girl presents to medical attention
one night with acute shortness of breath after a
visit to a discotheque. She is not known to be asthmatic.
Physical examination reveals a respiratory rate
of 30/min and, on auscultation, vesicular breathing
sounds without any additional auxiliary sounds.
An arterial blood gas analysis yields the following
findings: pO2 = 95 mmHg, pCO2 = 25 mmHg,
pH = 7.51.
Hyperventilation syndrome is considered to be
the most likely diagnosis, with the underlying
cause being a crisis in the patient's relationship
with her boyfriend (they had just had an argument).
Pharmacotherapy is not necessary in this case;
all that is needed is reassurance.