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Respiratory failure: Difference between revisions

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== Etiology ==
== Etiology ==
 
<section begin="etiology" />
=== Hypoxaemic respiratory failure ===
=== Hypoxaemic respiratory failure ===
Hypoxaemic respiratory failure occurs due to problems with gas exchange in the lungs or due to mild [[Ventilation perfusion mismatch|V/Q mismatching]]. This is because CO2 exchanges much more easily in the lungs than O2.
Hypoxaemic respiratory failure occurs due to problems with gas exchange in the lungs or due to mild [[Ventilation perfusion mismatch|V/Q mismatching]]. This is because CO2 exchanges much more easily in the lungs than O2.
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==== Hypoventilation ====
==== Hypoventilation ====
{{#lst:Hypoventilation|etiology}}
{{#lst:Hypoventilation|etiology}}
==== Increased dead space (V/Q mismatch) ====
==== Increased dead space (V/Q mismatch) ====
Increased dead spacing occurs when there is a ventilation/perfusion mismatch (V/Q mismatch) where regions of the lung are not perfused. When a part of the lung receives no perfusion, the alveoli in the area effectively become dead space (due to not having blood to exchange gas to). This can occur in case of:
Increased dead spacing occurs when there is a ventilation/perfusion mismatch (V/Q mismatch) where regions of the lung are not perfused. When a part of the lung receives no perfusion, the alveoli in the area effectively become dead space (due to not having blood to exchange gas to). This can occur in case of:
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* [[Pulmonary embolism]] (severe)
* [[Pulmonary embolism]] (severe)
* [[Interstitial lung disease]] (severe)
* [[Interstitial lung disease]] (severe)
 
<section end="etiology" />
== Pathophysiology ==
== Pathophysiology ==


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== Compensatory mechanisms ==
== Compensatory mechanisms ==
Symptoms are less severe for chronic than for acute respiratory failure. In chronic cases, compensatory mechanisms like polyglobulia for hypoxaemia and increased bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidney for respiratory acidosis decreases the physiological impacts of respiratory failure.
Symptoms are less severe for chronic than for acute respiratory failure. In chronic cases, compensatory mechanisms like polyglobulia for hypoxaemia and increased bicarbonate reabsorption in the kidney for respiratory acidosis decreases the physiological impacts of respiratory failure.
[[Category:Pathophysiology]]
<noinclude>[[Category:Pathophysiology]]</noinclude>