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 Li Fang Xiao

Internal Medicine

59sec

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Is respiratory failure uncomfortable?

Respiratory failure is quite uncomfortable, and clinically, the symptoms feel severe, and the patient's own state is also very affected. Respiratory failure is mainly caused by a decrease in oxygen partial pressure, during which time the patient may experience wheezing, chest tightness, and even a feeling of being near death. There are many causes of respiratory failure, with severe infections being common, such as severe pneumonia or sepsis. A systemic inflammatory response can lead to respiratory failure. Another situation is when heart failure occurs, which can also accompany pulmonary congestion, causing pulmonary ventilation dysfunction that can also lead to respiratory failure. The treatment of respiratory failure focuses on removing the causative factors and selectively choosing different treatment plans, which can start with oxygen therapy or the use of a ventilator in severe cases to correct hypoxemia and sustain life.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong

Internal Medicine

46sec

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Causes of CO2 retention in respiratory failure

Respiratory failure manifests as hypoxia and the retention of carbon dioxide. The main cause of carbon dioxide retention is pathological changes in the respiratory system, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure, status asthmaticus, pulmonary heart disease, lung cancer, etc. Some neuropathies that cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles can lead to respiratory dysfunction, resulting in the retention of carbon dioxide in the body, affecting normal cellular metabolism, causing disturbances in acid-base balance and nervous system function, and posing life-threatening conditions. The most important pathogenic mechanism causing carbon dioxide retention in these diseases is still inadequate alveolar ventilation.

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Written by Li Qiang

Intensive Care Unit

1min 6sec

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How to grade respiratory failure

Respiratory failure is generally not graded; instead, it is classified into types. There are two types, Type I and Type II. Type I is characterized by an oxygen tension lower than 60 mmHg, at which point, there is no increase in carbon dioxide, and the carbon dioxide level is normal. Type II respiratory failure is when the oxygen tension is below 60 mmHg, accompanied by an increase in carbon dioxide, which is then termed Type II respiratory failure. Regarding respiratory failure, it is classified by type and not by severity grade. This means that once it meets these criteria, it is referred to as respiratory failure, and at this point, some emergency treatments to improve low oxygen levels are necessary. Therefore, respiratory failure is generally not graded into mild, moderate, or severe degrees. It is only differentiated into different types. Of course, there are different severity levels in respiratory failure, but we generally do not apply a specific degree of severity.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

30sec

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Does respiratory failure spread?

Respiratory failure is a condition characterized by significant decline in respiratory function and is clinically very serious, being a common critical and acute illness. Respiratory failure itself is not contagious, but certain diseases that cause respiratory failure can be contagious. For example, if it is caused by infectious pulmonary tuberculosis, then the tuberculosis can be transmitted, but respiratory failure itself is not contagious.

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Written by Peng Miao Yun

Internal Medicine

1min 8sec

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How to treat respiratory failure?

Treatment of patients with respiratory failure is primarily medical, focusing on suppressing or relieving the causes and triggers of respiratory failure, improving lung ventilation and gas exchange as much as possible, and treating and improving the function and condition of various vital organs. First, it is important to actively treat the primary disease causing respiratory failure. If there is a concurrent bacterial infection, sensitive antibiotics should be used, and triggers should be removed as much as possible. Simultaneously, maintaining airway patency and effective ventilation volume is necessary, which can involve administering bronchodilators and expectorants such as salbutamol, terbutaline sulfate, acetylcysteine, and ambroxol. When necessary, corticosteroids can be administered intravenously. If internal medicine treatment does not improve symptoms, tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation may be necessary to assist breathing. (Medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician, based on the actual situation.)