What are the symptoms of respiratory failure

Respiratory failure can manifest itself in many symptoms, the most common of which are respiratory disorders, impaired consciousness, or conjunctival congestion and edema. Therefore, we must have a scientific understanding of these symptoms and make timely judgments about this disease.

1. Classification

(1) Classification by arterial blood gas analysis ① Type I respiratory failure with hypoxia and no CO2 retention, or with decreased CO2 (Type I) is seen in cases of ventilation dysfunction (ventilation/perfusion imbalance, diffusion function impairment and pulmonary arteriovenous shunt). ②Type II respiratory failure is caused by alveolar hypoventilation, resulting in O2 deficiency and CO2 retention. In simple hypoventilation, the degree of O2 deficiency and CO2 retention is parallel. If accompanied by impaired ventilation function, the O2 deficiency will be more serious. The condition can only be corrected by increasing alveolar ventilation and adding oxygen therapy when necessary.

(2) Classification by disease course: Disease course can be divided into acute and chronic. Acute respiratory failure refers to the sudden causes of the above five types of causes, which cause severe damage to ventilation or gas exchange function and sudden clinical manifestations of respiratory failure, such as cerebrovascular accident, drug poisoning inhibiting the respiratory center, respiratory muscle paralysis, pulmonary infarction, ARDS, etc. If not rescued in time, it will endanger the patient's life.

Chronic respiratory failure is common in chronic respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, severe pulmonary tuberculosis, etc. The respiratory function damage gradually worsens. Although there is a lack of O2 or accompanied by CO2 retention, the body can still engage in daily activities through compensatory adaptation.

2. Symptoms

In addition to the symptoms of the primary disease, the main manifestations are hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention, such as dyspnea, shortness of breath, mental and neurological symptoms, etc. When complicated by pulmonary encephalopathy, gastrointestinal bleeding may also occur.

3. Physical examination findings

There may be cyanosis of the lips and nail beds, impaired consciousness, conjunctival congestion, edema, flapping tremor, and optic disc edema.