Respiratory Failure

Question 1

def of respiratory failure

Answer 1

inadequate gas exchange meaning that arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide or both cannot be kept at normal levels
includes increased respiratory rate

Question 2

what is T1RF

Answer 2

low O2 in blood
low/normal CO2 in blood

PaO2 decreased (<60mmHg (8.0kPa))
PaCO2 normal/decreased (<50mmHg (6.7kPa))
PA-aO2 increased (alveolar-arterial gradient is a measure of the difference between the alveolar concentration of oxygen and the arterial concentration of oxygen)

normally caused by:

1. ventilation-perfusion mismatch (volume of air flowing in and out of lungs is not matched by flow of blood to the lungs)
2. low ambient oxygen (high altitude)

Question 3

what is T2RF

Answer 3

low O2 in blood
high CO2 in blood

PaO2 decreased (<60mmHg (8.0kPa))
PaCO2 increased (>50mmHg (6.7kPa))
PA-aO2 normal (alveolar-arterial gradient is a measure of the difference between the alveolar concentration of oxygen and the arterial concentration of oxygen)
pH decreased

normally caused by:

1. increased airways resistance (COPD, asthma)
2. reduced breathing effor (drug effects, obesity)

Question 4

CPAP is used for which type of respiratory failure

Answer 4

continuous positive airway pressure - it is always blowing out air
therefore used for T1RF as it is blowing out air even when the patient is breathing out so CO2 is not a problem
low O2 & low/normal CO2

Question 5

BiPAP is used for which type of respiratory failure

Answer 5

bilevel positive airway pressure - it helps blow air in on inspiration and suck off air in expiration
therefore used for T2RF as it helps blow air and oxygen in, helping to correct low O2 and as it helps suck air and CO2 out, it helps to correct high CO2