Respiratory Failure

Question 1

Type 1 failure

Answer 1

• Type 1 failure – Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure
• Defined by low O2 tension in blood (PaO2)
• inability to transfer adequate oxygen from the alveolar space to the pulmonary capillary blood
• Characterized by severe hypoxemia
• This does not account for decrements in oxygen delivery (anemia)

Question 2

Type 2 failure

Answer 2

• Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

- Increased pCO2

Question 3

Hypoxemia

Answer 3

• decreased partial pressure of oxygen in the blood
• sometimes defined specifically:
  
  • PO2 less than 60 mmHg
  • Hemoglobin oxygen saturation of less than 90%

Question 4

Hypoxia

Answer 4

• lack of availability of oxygen to the tissue or the whole body
• Can be caused by low oxygen partial pressure = hypoxemic hypoxia as when one goes to higher altitudes
• OR can be caused by poor Oxygen delivery to tissue (anemia/heart disease)

Question 5

Understand how the environment affects oxygen delivery.

Answer 5

• Low FIO2 and PIO2: Uncommon in hospital……but
  
  • FIO2 can be dramatically decreased in closed space fires
  • Accumulation of other gases
  • Remember PIO2 changes with altitude
  • reduced PIO2 is common in commercial airplanes
• Hypoxemia from Increased CO2
  
  • Increased pCO2 decreases pO2 in alveoli