Causes of CO2 retention in respiratory failure

Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
Updated on December 25, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

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

What are the symptoms of respiratory failure?

Respiratory failure is a common critical condition in clinical settings. At the stage of respiratory failure, patients often experience severe discomfort and pain. Common symptoms include difficulty breathing, with many patients showing obvious respiratory distress, often needing to sit upright to breathe, profuse sweating, and an inability to continue normal activity. Additionally, cyanosis can occur, indicating very severe hypoxia. Symptoms of pulmonary encephalopathy, such as mental confusion, convulsions, and agitation, may also appear. In severe cases, patients may even fall into a coma. Hence, at the stage of respiratory failure, patients suffer considerably.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Can people with respiratory failure exercise?

Whether people with respiratory failure can exercise depends mainly on whether the respiratory failure occurred acutely or chronically. Generally, it is usually advised against exercising during acute respiratory failure, such as severe pulmonary inflammation, drowning, or failure of the nervous system functions. Exercise during this time can worsen the body's oxygen deficit and increase oxygen consumption, potentially exacerbating the symptoms of the disease. However, for chronic respiratory failure, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, patients have long been enduring hypoxia or hypercapnia. These individuals can engage in appropriate respiratory rehabilitation exercises, such as respiratory rehabilitation gymnastics and some traditional Chinese medicine practices, which can greatly aid in the recovery from the disease, particularly respiratory failure. The decision primarily depends on the patient’s specific condition and their physical tolerance.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Fang Xiao
Internal Medicine
48sec home-news-image

Is respiratory failure serious?

Respiratory failure is a relatively severe disease, with the most common causes being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure, which are frequently seen in clinical settings. Respiratory failure can be definitively diagnosed by performing blood gas analysis. Clinically, patients will exhibit symptoms of breathing difficulty, such as orthopnea or wheezing. In blood gas analysis, oxygen saturation is often below 90%, and the partial pressure of oxygen is less than 60 mmHg. These indicators can diagnose respiratory failure. Although respiratory failure is a serious condition, it can be recoverable through active symptomatic treatment, identifying the underlying cause, and eliminating aggravating factors.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
48sec home-news-image

How to administer oxygen for respiratory failure

If patients with respiratory failure undergo oxygen therapy, it is necessary to choose different therapy plans based on the type of respiratory failure. In the case of Type I respiratory failure, there is simply a lack of oxygen. For Type II respiratory failure, there is not only a lack of oxygen but also an accumulation of carbon dioxide. Therefore, for Type I respiratory failure, the oxygen flow can be higher, over five liters per minute, and the patient can continuously receive oxygen without causing significant side effects. However, for Type II respiratory failure, it is essential to control the oxygen flow at a low rate, under three liters per minute, otherwise, it may lead to other complications.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
44sec home-news-image

Causes of Respiratory Failure

Respiratory failure is relatively common in clinical practice and is frequently seen in critical respiratory conditions. The causes of respiratory failure most often arise from diseases of the respiratory and circulatory systems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute exacerbation of asthma, severe pneumonia, severe pulmonary tuberculosis, diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary edema, pneumoconiosis, pulmonary embolism, various causes of heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, severe pneumothorax, and substantial pleural effusion, among others. These can all lead to respiratory failure. Therefore, if respiratory distress occurs clinically and respiratory failure is suspected, it is crucial to conduct prompt examinations and actively manage the condition.