Respiratory failure

• What is resp failure?

  Resp system fails in one or both of its gas exchange functions
• What are some pulmonary causes of resp failure?

  COPD

  Pneumonia

  PE

  Acute resp distress syndrome

  Lung cancer
• What are some extrapulmonary causes of resp failure?

  MSK disorders - muscular dystrophy

  Nervous system disorders - Guillain-Barre syndrome

  Sepsis

  Drug OD
• What are some risk factors for resp distress?

  Smoking

  Pollution

  Age

  Immunocompromised
• What is type 1 resp failure?

  Hypoxemic
• What is type 2 resp failure?

  Hypercapnic
• What is the primary cause of type 1 resp failure?

  Ventilation-perfusion mismatch
• What is shunting?

  Blood bypasses ventilated areas of the lung due to anatomical or functional reasons
• What is type 2 resp failure a result of?

  Inadequate alveolar ventilation
• How may someone with resp failure present?

  Dyspnoea

  Tachypnoea

  Cough

  Cyanosis

  Use of accessory muscles

  Totty mouth breathing

  Confusion

  Oedema
• What bloods should be done for resp failure?

  ABG ( or VBG if ABG is not possible)

  FBC

  D-dimer

  Troponin

  BNP
• What are some radiological investigations that can be sone for resp failure?

  CXR

  Chest CT
• Why are so many investigations done for resp failure?

  Identify underlying cause -> determine appropriate management
• Why is an ABG done for resp failure?

  Determine whether it is type 1 or type 2
• What are some other investigations may be done when assessing resp failure?

  Echo

  Pulmonary function tests

  ECG
• How is resp failure managed?

  Oxygen therapy

  Non-invasive ventilation

  Invasive mechanical ventilation

  ECMO

  Treat underlying cause