RESP- Respiratory failure - causes and complications

Question 1

list potential causes of hypoxaemia and hypercapnia

Answer 1

insufficient ventilation (obstruction of airway, failure to breath adequately)

insufficient gas exchange (exchange surface dysfunction, VQ mismatch)

insufficient oxygen carrying capacity (anaemia)

insufficient oxygen in the atmosphere

Question 2

compare type 1 vs type 2 respiratory failure 
causes
PAO2
PaO2
PaCO2
pH

Answer 2

type 1:
causes: decreased oxygenation 
PAO2 - normal 
PaO2- decreased
PaCO2 - normal 
pH - normal 

type 2: 
causes - decreased ventilation 
PAO2- decreased 
PaO2 - decreased
PaCO2 - increased 
pH - decreased

Question 3

what are the clinical signs of respiratory failure

Answer 3

SOB
tachycardia
laboured breathing
audible lung sounds
tiredness / loos of consciousness
fatigue
cyanosis

Question 4

describe the clinical consequences of acute / chronic hypoxaemia and hypercapnia

Answer 4

acute:
hypoxaemia - tissue hypoxia - organ failure - death

chronic
polycythaemia - hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction - pulmonary heart failure