Respiratory failure is a disease.

Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Respiratory failure is a condition caused by severe impairment of lung ventilation and gas exchange functions due to various reasons, leading to ineffective gas exchange. This results in hypoxia in the body, accompanied by either retention or non-retention of carbon dioxide, thereby causing a clinical syndrome of physiological and metabolic disorders. The causes of respiratory failure include diseases of the lung tissue, respiratory tract disorders, pulmonary vascular diseases, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, among other factors, all of which can lead to respiratory failure.

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Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
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Respiratory failure is a disease.

Respiratory failure is a condition caused by severe impairment of lung ventilation and gas exchange functions due to various reasons, leading to ineffective gas exchange. This results in hypoxia in the body, accompanied by either retention or non-retention of carbon dioxide, thereby causing a clinical syndrome of physiological and metabolic disorders. The causes of respiratory failure include diseases of the lung tissue, respiratory tract disorders, pulmonary vascular diseases, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, among other factors, all of which can lead to respiratory failure.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Treatment of Respiratory Failure

Respiratory failure refers to the severe impairment of lung ventilation and gas exchange function caused by various reasons. The treatment of respiratory failure is comprehensive. Firstly, it is necessary to maintain the patency of the airway. Second, oxygen therapy is required. Oxygen therapy is mainly used to correct the patient's hypoxia. Third, a ventilator can be used to assist breathing. Fourth, the cause of the condition should be addressed. For example, if it is caused by a severe infection, aggressive anti-infection measures should be taken; if caused by a large amount of pleural effusion, aggressive drainage of the pleural fluid should be undertaken, etc. Additionally, general supportive therapy should be considered, such as maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance. It is also important to protect the function of vital organs, such as maintaining the function of the heart and lungs, etc.

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Written by Wang Li Bing
Intensive Care Medicine Department
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How to administer oxygen for respiratory failure.

First, we should evaluate whether the patient has type I or type II respiratory failure based on arterial blood gas analysis. Type I respiratory failure is primarily characterized by low oxygen tension, indicating a state of hypoxia, with normal carbon dioxide tension, in which case high-flow oxygen therapy can be administered. In type II respiratory failure, both the oxygen tension is low and the carbon dioxide tension is high. In this case, only low-flow oxygen therapy should be given, or non-invasive ventilation, or endotracheal intubation connected to mechanical ventilation may be employed.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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How to rescue respiratory failure

Respiratory failure is a very serious condition clinically, and if not handled promptly, many patients may have their lives endangered. The emergency measures for respiratory failure include the following. First, it is necessary to maintain the patency of the airway. If the patient is unconscious, the patient should be placed in a supine position with the head tilted back, the lower jaw lifted, and the mouth opened to clear the airway of secretions and foreign objects. If this is insufficient, tracheal intubation and other methods should be considered to maintain airway patency. Additionally, oxygen therapy, which involves inhaling oxygen, can correct the patient's hypoxic state. If the respiratory function is very poor, consideration should also be given to using a ventilator to assist breathing. Other emergency measures include etiological treatment, supportive treatment, and protecting the function of other vital organs, among others.

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Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
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Can respiratory failure be cured?

Respiratory failure is a critical condition in clinical settings, characterized by high mortality rates and the potential to impair multiple organ functions, thus endangering the lives of patients. However, in cases of chronic respiratory failure, it is generally incurable, as the respiratory function of these patients has already declined significantly. For patients with acute respiratory failure, the possibility of recovery is closely tied to the ability to diagnose early and administer effective treatment promptly. If acute respiratory failure is treated effectively early on by removing the trigger and the cause, and if the respiratory function can significantly improve within a short time, then there is still a chance for a cure.