What is respiratory failure?

If respiratory failure is not treated promptly and correctly, it will be life-threatening. Respiratory failure may be caused by obstructive ventilation dysfunction caused by airway lesions, or it may be caused by lung inflammation.

1. Obstructive ventilation dysfunction caused by airway lesions: In cases of tracheal inflammation, spasm, tumors, foreign bodies and chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema, due to varying degrees of airway obstruction, alveolar ventilation is insufficient, leading to hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention.

2. Ventilation dysfunction caused by lung tissue damage: Pulmonary inflammation, edema, vascular disease, diffuse pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, emphysema, silicosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome cause ventilation/blood flow imbalance, reduced diffusion area or increased anatomical shunt, leading to hypoxia.

3. Restrictive ventilation dysfunction caused by weakened thoracic movement or ventilator failure: severe thoracic deformity, severe posterior spinal protrusion, extensive pleural thickening, large amounts of pleural effusion or pneumothorax, etc., which cause limited thoracic movement; poliomyelitis, multiple radiculitis, myasthenia gravis, increased ventilator load, etc., which cause weakened respiratory muscle activity, can all affect lung expansion and lead to reduced lung ventilation.

4. Dysfunction of the respiratory center caused by brain lesions: Brain inflammation, vascular lesions, tumors, trauma, metabolic or drug poisoning, etc. indirectly or directly damage the respiratory center, leading to respiratory function inhibition and weakened ventilation function.