Respiratory failure is a syndrome in which the respiratory system fails in one or both of its gas exchange functions: oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination. In practice, it may be classified as either hypoxemic or hypercapnic.
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Respiratory Failure
Respiratory failure is a syndrome in which the respiratory system fails in one or both of its gas exchange functions: oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination. In practice, it may be classified as either hypoxemic or hypercapnic.
Diseases and conditions that commonly lead to chronic respiratory failure include: • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) • Complicated pneumonia. • Cystic fibrosis. • Spinal cord injuries. • Stroke. • Muscular dystrophy. • ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) • Injury to the chest.
The symptoms of respiratory failure depend on its underlying cause and the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your blood. People with a high carbon dioxide level may experience: rapid breathing confusion. People with low oxygen levels may experience: an inability to breathe bluish coloration in the skin, fingertips, or lips. People with acute failure of the lungs and low oxygen levels may experience: restlessness anxiety sleepiness loss of consciousness rapid and shallow breathing racing heart irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) profuse sweating.
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GeneralMedicines :Acute respiratory failure requires immediate medical attention. You may receive oxygen to help you breathe and to prevent tissue death in your organs and brain. After your doctor stabilizes you, he or she will take certain steps to diagnose your condition, such as: perform a physical exam ask you questions about your family or personal health history check your body’s oxygen and carbon dioxide levels level with a pulse oximetry device and an arterial blood gas test order a chest X-ray to look for abnormalities in your lungs
