respiratory failure amboss

Question 1

causes of hypoxaemia

Answer 1

• impaired alveolar diffusion eg. due to pulmonary oedema, severe pneumonia, pulmonary haemorrhage, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
• right to left shunt: due to acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary contusions/haemorrhage, lung collpase, tension pneumothorax
• V/Q mistmatch eg. due to pneumonia, pulmonary oedema, pulmonary embolism, atelectais
• decreased FiO2 eg. high altitude
• hypoventilation

Question 2

causes of hypercapnia

Answer 2

• airway obstruction and/or increased physiological dead space: acute asthma, brnchiolitis, asspiration, bronchiectasis, CF
• CNS depression eg. opioid, cerebral herniation, stroke)
• respiratory muscle weakness eg. GBS, myopathies, poliomyelitis
• decreaed chest wall compliance eg. rib fracture, tetanus, seizure, obesity
• electrolyte disturbance eg. anorexia

Question 3

initial approach to resspiratory failure

Answer 3

ABCDE
immidiate respirtory support
ABG, routine labs, ECG, CXR

Question 4

treatment for tenssion pneumothorax

Answer 4

emergency chesst decompression and chest tube placement to drain air/fluid to facilitate lung reexpanion

Question 5

emergency treatment for opioid induced respiratory failure

Answer 5

naloxone