Aetiology

Causes of hypoventilation include:

• respiratory depression, e.g. anaesthesia, analgesia, anoxia, trauma
• neurological disease, e.g. Guillain-Barre disease; polio - diaphragmatic paralysis - note that in REM sleep everything is paralysed except for the diaphragm; motor neurone disease - less of a problem; syringobulbia
• respiratory muscle disease, e.g. dermatomyositis, myasthenia gravis
• limited chest movement, e.g. kyphoscoliosis
• limited lung movement, e.g. pneumothorax, pleural effusion
• lung disease, e.g. pneumonia, collapse

Note, a similar list to the aetiology of respiratory arrest.