Respiratory failure Flashcards
What is the definition of respiratory failure
- failure of respiratory system to maintain normal blood gases
- hypoxemic (PaO2 <60 mmHg)
- hypercapnic (PaCO2 >50 mmHg)
- acute vs. chronic (compensatory mechanisms activated)
What are signs and symptoms of respiratory failure
- signs of underlying disease
- hypoxemia: restlessness, confusion, cyanosis, coma, cor pulmonale
- hypercapnia: headache, dyspnea, drowsiness, asterixis, warm periphery, plethora, increased ICP (secondary to vasodilatation)
Respiratory failure investigations
- serial ABGs
* CXR and/or CT, bronchoscopy to characterize underlying cause if unclear
Definition of hypoxemic respiratory failure
• PaO2 decreased, PaCO2 normal or decreased
Hypoxemic respiratory failure treatment
- reverse the underlying pathology
- oxygen therapy: maintain oxygenation (if shunt present, supplemental O2 is less effective)
- ventilation, BiPAP, and PEEP/CPAP: positive pressure can recruit alveoli and redistribute lung fluid
- improve cardiac output: ± hemodynamic support (fluids, vasopressors, inotropes), reduction of O2 requirements
What are different types of hypoxemia
Low FiO2
Hypoventialtion
Shunt (intrapulmonary)
Shunt (right to left)
Low mixed venous O2 content
V/Q mismatch
Diffusion impairment
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on low fiO2 hypoxemia
Post op, high altitude
Normal or decreased
Normal
Improves
No change
No change
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on Hypoventilation hypoxemia
Drug overdose
Increased
Normal
Improves
Improves with ventilation
No change
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on shunt (intrapulmonary) hypoxemia
ARDS, pneumonia
Normal or decreased
Increased
No change
Improves (except if one-sided)
Improves
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on shunt (right to left)
Pulmonary hypertension
Normal or decreased
Increased
No change
Worsens
Worsens
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on low mixed venous o2 content hypoxemia
Shock
Decreased
Increased
Improves or no change
Worsens
Improves
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on V/Q mismatch hypoxemia
COPD
Normal or increased
Increased
Improves (small amounts)
Often improves
Improves
What are the settings, PaCO2, A-aDO2, effect of oxygen therapy, effect of ventilation, BiPAP and PEEP and effect of improved cardiac output on diffusion impairment hypoxemia
ILD, emphysema
Normal
Increased
Improves
Improves with positive pressure
No change or worsens
What is dead space
- Ventilation without perfusion
* The opposite of shunt
Causes of hypercapnia
- High Inspired CO2
- Low Total Ventilation
- High Deadspace Ventilation
- High CO2 Production