Acute Respiratory Failure

Acute Respiratory Failure

• Altered gas exchange on room air, often seen in patients with chronic respiratory conditions that decompensate
• Hypoxemia (PaO2 < 50) and/or hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 50) with a pH < 7.35
• Causes: alveolar hypoventilation (mechanical issues, obesity, chest wall deformities, neuromuscular conditions) and diffusion abnormalities (pneumonia, ARDS, congestive heart failure)
• Treatment: treat underlying cause, mechanical ventilation, and nursing assessments (ABGs, pulse ox, respiratory cells, focused respiratory assessment)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

• Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) causing damage to capillary membranes
• Increased capillary permeability leading to pulmonary edema (non-cardiogenic) and micro atelectasis
• Symptoms: dyspnea, tachypnea, hyperventilation, and hypoxemia
• VQ ratio abnormal, indicating poor ventilation and diffusion
• Treatment: mechanical ventilation, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation

Pulmonary Embolus

• Virchow's Triad: three risk factors for DVTs and pulmonary embolus
  • Venous stasis (blood pooling in lower extremities)
  • Altered coagulability (certain diseases, medications, or conditions)
  • Damage to vessel walls (trauma, previous DVT)
• Signs and symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension, tachycardia, altered mental status
• Diagnostics: D-dimer, CT scan, and ventilation-perfusion scan
• Treatment: thrombolytics, anticoagulants, surgical treatments, and discharge planning

Acute Respiratory Failure

• Altered gas exchange occurs on room air, often seen in patients with chronic respiratory conditions that decompensate
• Characterized by hypoxemia (PaO2 < 50) and/or hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 50) with a pH < 7.35
• Causes include alveolar hypoventilation (mechanical issues, obesity, chest wall deformities, neuromuscular conditions) and diffusion abnormalities (pneumonia, ARDS, congestive heart failure)
• Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause, mechanical ventilation, and regular nursing assessments (ABGs, pulse ox, respiratory cells, focused respiratory assessment)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

• ARDS results from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), causing damage to capillary membranes
• Increased capillary permeability leads to pulmonary edema (non-cardiogenic) and micro atelectasis
• Symptoms include dyspnea, tachypnea, hyperventilation, and hypoxemia
• Abnormal VQ ratio indicates poor ventilation and diffusion
• Treatment involves mechanical ventilation, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation

Pulmonary Embolus

• Virchow's Triad identifies three risk factors for DVTs and pulmonary embolus
  • Venous stasis occurs due to blood pooling in lower extremities
  • Altered coagulability results from certain diseases, medications, or conditions
  • Damage to vessel walls occurs due to trauma, previous DVT, or other factors
• Signs and symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension, tachycardia, and altered mental status
• Diagnosis involves D-dimer, CT scan, and ventilation-perfusion scan
• Treatment options include thrombolytics, anticoagulants, surgical treatments, and discharge planning

Acute Respiratory Failure

• Altered gas exchange occurs on room air, often seen in patients with chronic respiratory conditions that decompensate
• Characterized by hypoxemia (PaO2 < 50) and/or hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 50) with a pH < 7.35
• Causes include alveolar hypoventilation (mechanical issues, obesity, chest wall deformities, neuromuscular conditions) and diffusion abnormalities (pneumonia, ARDS, congestive heart failure)
• Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause, mechanical ventilation, and regular nursing assessments (ABGs, pulse ox, respiratory cells, focused respiratory assessment)

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

• ARDS results from systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), causing damage to capillary membranes
• Increased capillary permeability leads to pulmonary edema (non-cardiogenic) and micro atelectasis
• Symptoms include dyspnea, tachypnea, hyperventilation, and hypoxemia
• Abnormal VQ ratio indicates poor ventilation and diffusion
• Treatment involves mechanical ventilation, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and corticosteroids to reduce inflammation

Pulmonary Embolus

• Virchow's Triad identifies three risk factors for DVTs and pulmonary embolus
  • Venous stasis occurs due to blood pooling in lower extremities
  • Altered coagulability results from certain diseases, medications, or conditions
  • Damage to vessel walls occurs due to trauma, previous DVT, or other factors
• Signs and symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, hypotension, tachycardia, and altered mental status
• Diagnosis involves D-dimer, CT scan, and ventilation-perfusion scan
• Treatment options include thrombolytics, anticoagulants, surgical treatments, and discharge planning

Quiz on Acute Respiratory Failure, a condition characterized by altered gas exchange, hypoxemia, and hypercapnia, its causes and treatment options.