Respiratory Failure Quiz

Understanding Respiratory Failure

• Respiratory failure refers to the inability of the respiratory system to maintain adequate oxygen and/or carbon dioxide exchange.
• The criteria for respiratory failure are an arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) less than 60 mm Hg, or an arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) greater than 50 mm Hg, or a mixture of both.
• Respiratory failure is a life-threatening condition that respiratory therapists must be proficient in recognizing, assessing, and managing.
• There are six major anatomic alterations of the lungs that can result in respiratory failure: atelectasis, alveolar consolidation, increased alveolar-capillary membrane thickness, bronchospasm, excessive bronchial secretions, and distal airway and alveolar weakening.
• Respiratory failure is commonly classified as either hypoxemic (type I) respiratory failure, hypercapnic (type II) respiratory failure, or a combination of both.
• Hypoxemic respiratory failure (type I) is used to describe a patient whose primary problem is inadequate oxygenation.
• Patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure typically demonstrate hypoxemia—a low PaO2—and a normal, or low PaCO2 value.
• Hypercapnic respiratory failure (type II) is used to describe a patient whose primary problem is alveolar hypoventilation.
• In the clinical setting, hypercapnic respiratory failure is commonly called ventilatory failure.
• Ventilatory failure can be acute or chronic, based on the PaCO2 and pH values.
• Acute ventilatory changes are often seen in patients with chronic ventilatory failure.
• There are various respiratory disorders associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure, including restrictive pulmonary disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, neoplastic disease, and newborn and early childhood respiratory disorders.

Understanding Respiratory Failure

• Respiratory failure refers to the inability of the respiratory system to maintain adequate oxygen and/or carbon dioxide exchange.
• The criteria for respiratory failure are an arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) less than 60 mm Hg, or an arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) greater than 50 mm Hg, or a mixture of both.
• Respiratory failure is a life-threatening condition that respiratory therapists must be proficient in recognizing, assessing, and managing.
• There are six major anatomic alterations of the lungs that can result in respiratory failure: atelectasis, alveolar consolidation, increased alveolar-capillary membrane thickness, bronchospasm, excessive bronchial secretions, and distal airway and alveolar weakening.
• Respiratory failure is commonly classified as either hypoxemic (type I) respiratory failure, hypercapnic (type II) respiratory failure, or a combination of both.
• Hypoxemic respiratory failure (type I) is used to describe a patient whose primary problem is inadequate oxygenation.
• Patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure typically demonstrate hypoxemia—a low PaO2—and a normal, or low PaCO2 value.
• Hypercapnic respiratory failure (type II) is used to describe a patient whose primary problem is alveolar hypoventilation.
• In the clinical setting, hypercapnic respiratory failure is commonly called ventilatory failure.
• Ventilatory failure can be acute or chronic, based on the PaCO2 and pH values.
• Acute ventilatory changes are often seen in patients with chronic ventilatory failure.
• There are various respiratory disorders associated with hypoxemic respiratory failure, including restrictive pulmonary disorders, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, neoplastic disease, and newborn and early childhood respiratory disorders.