TY - JOUR T1 - A case of hypercapnic respiratory failure JF - Breathe JO - Breathe DO - 10.1183/20734735.0217-2020 VL - 17 IS - 1 SP - 200217 AU - Julie Van Woensel AU - Pieter Goeminne AU - Yvan Valcke Y1 - 2021/03/01 UR - http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/17/1/200217.abstract N2 - A 55-year-old man was referred to the department of respiratory disease with a polycythaemia. Underlying haematological disease was already excluded. Blood results are shown in table 1.A systematic work-up is important in case of hypercapnia. Pay attention to the shape of the flow–volume curve and any abnormal breathing sounds. In case of stridor, vocal cord paralysis should be suspected and, if confirmed, neurological investigations are advised. https://bit.ly/34APMi8We thank K. Strobbe, respiratory physician at AZ Nikolaas hospital, Sint Niklaas, Belgium, for providing the polysomnography and helping with its interpretation; A. Otte, respiratory physician at Zuyderland medical center, Heerlen, The Netherlands, for a second revision of the polysomnography; and M. van der Steege, English teacher, for revising the English writing style. ER -