Neurologic complications of respiratory disease.

The respiratory system and the central nervous system are interconnected in a delicate balance; disorders in this equilibrium can have devastating consequences. Respiratory dysfunction, whether acute or chronic, may cause neurologic disease, including headache, encephalopathy, and in extreme cases, coma and death. This article will discuss abnormalities in ventilation and gas exchange, their subsequent pathophysiologic effects on the nervous system, and mechanisms of treatment for these disorders.