RESPIRATORY

FAILURE
Respiratory failure
Respiratory failure is a syndrome in which the respiratory system
fails in one or both of its gas exchange functions: oxygenation and
carbon dioxide elimination.
Classification:
type I
type II
Both types can be acute or chronic.
Respiratory failure (type I)
ocharacterized by (PaO2) lower than 60 mmHg with a normal or low
(PaCO2).
oThis is the most common form of respiratory failure.
oAssociated with acute diseases of the lung which generally involve
fluid filling or collapse of alveolar units such as :
- pulmonary edema, pneumonia and pulmonary hemorrhage.
oV/Q mismatch & intrapulmonary shunt are the major
pathophysiologic mechanism.
Respiratory failure (type II)
oIt’s characterized by a PaCO2 of more than 50 mm Hg.
oCommon etiologies:
-drug overdose, neuromuscular disease, and severe airway disorders
(asthma and COPD)
 Hypoxia
lack of O2 at the cellular level.

Causes of Hypoxia:
1-Anemia

2-Low Cardiac Output (Distributive hypoxia)

3-Hypoxemic hypoxia = Low PaO2

4-Metabolic or toxic hypoxia = can’t utilize O2

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