Respiratory failure classified by etiology

Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

Respiratory failure can be classified according to its causes into four types. The first type involves diseases of the airway such as bronchial inflammation, bronchiectasis, and foreign body obstruction, leading to insufficient ventilation. The second type is due to lung tissue diseases, such as pneumonia, severe tuberculosis, emphysema, diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, etc., causing a state of hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention due to ventilatory defects. The third type includes pulmonary vascular diseases, such as pulmonary vascular embolism and pulmonary infarction, which cause part of the venous blood to flow into the pulmonary veins, resulting in hypoxia. The fourth type involves diseases of the thoracic cage such as chest trauma, surgical trauma, pneumothorax, and pleural effusion, which affect daily activities and lung expansion, leading to insufficient lung ventilation and resulting in respiratory failure.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
48sec home-news-image

Treatment principles for respiratory failure

Respiratory failure is a common emergency condition in the respiratory system, with patients often experiencing significant breathing difficulties, cyanosis, etc. So, what are the principles of treatment for respiratory failure? The overall principles of treatment are to enhance respiratory support, including maintaining airway patency, correcting hypoxia through oxygen therapy, and improving ventilation with the use of ventilators, among other measures. Additionally, it is important to intensify treatment of the causes and inducers of respiratory failure, such as controlling infections. Attention should also be paid to general supportive treatment, such as nutritional support, correcting electrolyte imbalances, etc., as well as protecting other vital organs, like the liver and kidneys.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
1min 6sec home-news-image

Respiratory Failure Nursing Care Plan

For patients with respiratory failure, treatment is one aspect, and nursing is equally important. A nursing plan should be developed in advance, starting with keeping the airway clear to avoid aspiration of liquids or food into the trachea. It is necessary to frequently help the patient turn and pat their back to facilitate the expulsion of phlegm, while also enhancing nutrition and increasing the intake of various nutrients. During the remission period of respiratory failure, persist in exercising, performing exercises like knee protections to strengthen the activity of the respiratory muscles. Adapt clothing according to seasonal and climatic changes to avoid catching a cold. In nursing, it is important to maintain vital signs, pay attention to the care of the skin and oral mucosa, promptly clear phlegm, and avoid factors that trigger breathing difficulties, such as the stimulation from cold wind and cold air. Maintain regular life patterns, engage in appropriate physical exercise, and prevent the occurrence of colds.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
45sec home-news-image

Precursors of respiratory failure

Respiratory failure can be a very acute condition, or it may evolve gradually due to chronic diseases. The basic precursors of respiratory failure generally include hypoxia or hypercapnia. In the early stages of hypoxia, patients may experience excitement or irritability, characterized by rapid breathing and possibly sweating due to the effort of breathing. Symptoms include accelerated breathing and hypoxia; the patient’s lips may also turn blue. If the level of carbon dioxide increases, once past the initial period of excitement and as the hypoxia worsens, the person may become listless. Gradually, their consciousness may become unclear, manifesting as drowsiness or possibly even coma.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
59sec home-news-image

Causes of respiratory failure

Respiratory failure is a severe breathing difficulty that can lead to hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention. The causes of respiratory failure can be broadly classified into the following categories: First, there are diseases of the lung parenchyma, such as various lung infections, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, lung abscess, and diseases of the lung interstitium. Another type involves obstruction of the airway, including obstruction in the upper respiratory tract, which covers the nose, pharynx, and larynx, as well as obstructions in the lower respiratory tract, which can also lead to respiratory failure. Third, there are diseases involving the peripheral nervous transmission system and the respiratory machinery, such as acute infectious polyradiculoneuritis, poliomyelitis, and some cervical spine injuries. These can severely affect the respiratory center and respiratory nerves, leading to respiratory failure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
45sec home-news-image

Is respiratory failure serious?

Respiratory failure is a common and critical condition in the respiratory system, and it is very serious. Respiratory failure manifests as a severe decline in respiratory function, often with significant damage to the lungs' ventilation and gas exchange capabilities. Patients often experience severe chest tightness, difficulty breathing, obvious hypoxic cyanosis, and may even present with symptoms such as convulsions and coma, which can be fatal. Treatment usually requires oxygen therapy and often the assistance of a ventilator. Therefore, respiratory failure is considered a very serious condition clinically and requires proactive management to save the patient's life.