🫁🏋🏻 New Exercise Available on Xlung Trainer – A Patient with Sudden Hypotension, Tachycardia, and Respiratory Deterioration in the Immediate Postoperative Period
By: BETINA SANTOS TOMAZ, FISIOTERAPEUTA - 03/10/2026 16:41
You will analyze a scenario that is extremely common in ICU practice but still leads to many misinterpretations.
🧩 Scenario
A 77-year-old male, a former smoker, was admitted intubated after extensive orthopedic surgery on the left hip. Past medical history: controlled hypertension. Height: 1.70 m.
The patient is still sedated, RASS -5, and developed sudden hypotension (BP: 85 × 45 mmHg) and worsening SpO₂ a few minutes ago.
FiO₂ was increased from 30% to 60%.
🎯 Your mission
- Activate the mainstream capnograph.
- Analyze the capnogram waveform and PetCO₂ values.
- Consider obtaining an arterial blood gas to better interpret the clinical situation.
- Answer the questions.
🧠 What this exercise explores
✅ Recognition of typical capnography and capnometry patterns in a severe and potentially life-threatening scenario.
✅ Interpretation of the findings based on physiopathology and critical analysis of the P(a–et)CO₂ gradient in the clinical contexto.
💡 Excellent training for:
• Applied respiratory physiology
• Ventilatory monitoring with capnography
• Exams / residency training / ICU practice
📵 Attention: This exercise is not suitable for mobile devices. For the best experience, please use a laptop or desktop computer.
After completing it, share your interpretation in the forum below 👇
Good simulation!
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