Is respiratory failure serious?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 23, 2024
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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.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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What are the symptoms of respiratory failure?

Respiratory failure is a common critical illness in clinical settings, characterized by serious impairments in the lung's ventilation and gas exchange functions. What are the symptoms after respiratory failure? First and foremost, the earliest and most obvious symptom is difficulty breathing. Many patients experience significant difficulty breathing; severe cases may even involve orthopnea, profuse sweating, and inability to speak. Another important symptom is cyanosis, which is a typical manifestation of hypoxia. Additionally, there can be neuropsychiatric symptoms such as mental confusion, agitation, convulsions, and even coma. Other systems may also exhibit symptoms, such as tachycardia, arrhythmias, and decreased gastrointestinal function.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Clinical manifestations of respiratory failure

Respiratory failure is one of the common critical illnesses. So, what are the clinical manifestations of respiratory failure? Firstly, there is difficulty breathing, which is the most common symptom of respiratory failure. Most patients experience noticeable difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, patients may sit upright to breathe, sweat profusely, and appear very distressed. Another symptom is cyanosis, a typical sign of oxygen deficiency. Mild cases may show cyanosis at the extremities and lips, while severe cases can exhibit cyanosis throughout the body. Additional symptoms can include neurological and psychological symptoms such as confusion, mania, convulsions, coma, and drowsiness. Due to the oxygen deficiency affecting various systems, other systems may also show corresponding symptoms, such as tachycardia and arrhythmia in the circulatory system, and potential upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the digestive system.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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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 Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
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Care of Patients with Respiratory Failure

In the nursing care of patients with respiratory failure, it is important to strictly monitor vital signs daily, as respiratory failure is considered an emergency and critical condition clinically. Observe the patient's blood pressure, consciousness state, and respiratory rate. At the same time, good skin care and oral care should be maintained to prevent aspiration pneumonia and bedsores. Most importantly, secretions should be cleared in a timely manner, including phlegm. Conscious patients should be encouraged to cough forcefully. For patients who are weak in coughing, assist them in turning and patting their backs regularly to facilitate the expulsion of phlegm. For comatose patients, mechanical suction can be used to maintain airway patency. It is advisable to avoid factors that may cause breathing difficulties, such as cold wind and poor air circulation. Pay attention to enhancing physical exercise appropriately, preventing colds, and maintaining a regular lifestyle.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
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What is acute respiratory failure?

Respiratory failure refers to the severe dysfunction in pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange in the respiratory system caused by various reasons under normal conditions. This dysfunction leads to ineffective gas exchange during respiration, resulting in hypoxia in the body and retention of carbon dioxide, thereby causing a series of physiological and metabolic disorders. Typically, under resting conditions at sea-level atmospheric pressure, respiratory failure is defined when arterial oxygen tension falls below 60 mmHg, accompanied by carbon dioxide retention, with carbon dioxide tension exceeding 50 mmHg, or without an increase in carbon dioxide tension. It is categorized into acute respiratory failure and chronic respiratory failure.