Respiratory failure

Respiratory failure
Anatomy and causes of respiratory failure
SpecialtyPulmonology, Intensive care medicine
SymptomsShortness of breath, cyanosis, tachycardia, tachypnea, arrhythmia, headache, hypertension
Complicationsseizure, fainting, panic attack, infections, coma
TypesType 1–4
CausesStroke, cystic fibrosis, COPD, ARDS, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, neuromuscular diseases like ALS
Diagnostic methodArterial blood gas test
Differential diagnosisARDS, aspiration pneumonia
TreatmentTreatment of underlying cause, non-invasive ventilation
Frequency10–80 per 100,000

Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial carbon dioxide levels is called hypercapnia. Respiratory failure is classified as either Type 1 or Type 2, based on whether there is a high carbon dioxide level, and can be acute or chronic. In clinical trials, the definition of respiratory failure usually includes increased respiratory rate, abnormal blood gases (hypoxemia, hypercapnia, or both), and evidence of increased work of breathing. Respiratory failure causes an altered state of consciousness due to ischemia in the brain.

The typical partial pressure reference values are oxygen Pa O
2
more than 80 mmHg (11 kPa) and carbon dioxide Pa CO2 less than 45 mmHg (6.0 kPa).[1]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mirabile was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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