Respiratory failure

Question 1

What are the 2 types of respiratory failure?

Answer 1

Type I

Type II

Question 2

How do you define type I respiratory failure?

Answer 2

Hypoxia

With normal or low PaCO2

Question 3

How do you define type II respiratory failure?

Answer 3

Hypoxia

With Hypercapnia

Question 4

What causes type I respiratory failure?

Answer 4

Ventilation - perfusion mismatch: not enough oxygen exchange from

Low ambient oxygen
PE
Diffusion problem: damage to lung parenchyma
- fibrosis
- pneumonia
ARDS

Question 5

What causes type II respiratory failure?

Answer 5

Alveolar hypoventilation: not enough air getting to the alveoli

Airway resistance (COPD, asthma, suffocation)

Reduced breathing effort (drugs, brain stem lesion, extreme obesity)

A decrease in the area of the lung available for gas exchange

Neuromuscular problems (Guillain-Barré syndrome,[1] motor neuron disease)

Deformed chest: rigid, as in ankylosing spondylitis

Question 6

How would you manage type I respiratory failure?

Answer 6

Treat underlying cause
Give oxygen
Assisted ventilation

Question 7

How would you manage type II respiratory failure?

Answer 7

Treat underlying cause
Give oxygen with care
Check ABG
Intubation and ventilation if necessary