Respiratory Failure

Question 1

In scientific words, what is respiratory failure?

Answer 1

Failure of ventilation and/or gas exchange

Question 2

What are the causes of respiratory failure?

I just picked 2 from each category

Answer 2

Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure:
- Severe pneumonia 
- Atelectasis 
Hypercapnic/Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
- Asthma 
- Guillain-Barre syndrome 
Impaired Diffusion 
- Pulmonary edema
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome

Question 3

What are mnfts of respiratory failure?

4

Answer 3

• Hypoxemia (paO2 <60 mmHg)
  
  • Normal range: 80-100 mmHg
• Hypercapnia (paO2 >45 mmHg)
  
  • Normal range: 35-45 mmHg
• Respiratory acidosis
• Those of the cause

Question 4

What are some interventions to help restore respiratory Fx?

Answer 4

• O2
• Mechanical ventilation
• Bronchodilators if indicated
• Antibiotics if bacterial infection
• Treat the cause