Dr Henry Jefferson, Consultant Anaesthetist
#QuestionFeedback 8. Hypercapnia Does very high PaCO₂ eventually cause respiratory depression? Yes, but it is important to distinguish this from the normal ventilatory response. Over the usual physiological range, ventilation increases approximately linearly with increasing PaCO₂. At extreme levels, severe hypercapnia can cause CNS depression, blunting ventilation and potentially leading to respiratory failure.