Respiratory failure is a difficulty for the lungs to carry out gas exchange, failing to capture oxygen adequately and/or release carbon dioxide through breathing, leading to symptoms such as intense shortness of breath, bluish color in the fingers or excessive tiredness.
Respiratory failure can be caused by diseases that affect the lungs, respiratory muscles or the nervous system, such as COPD, pulmonary emphysema, brain tumor, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or even heart failure, for example.
The treatment of respiratory failure is carried out by a general practitioner or pulmonologist, and must be started immediately in the hospital and, therefore, it is important to go to the emergency room when sudden symptoms of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing appear. Additionally, in the case of chronic respiratory failure, treatment varies depending on the condition that is causing the symptoms.
Symptoms of respiratory failure
The main symptoms of respiratory failure are:
- Feeling of shortness of breath;
- Difficulty breathing, even at rest;
- Cough, with phlegm and which may contain blood;
- Blue-colored skin, lips and nails;
- Rapid breathing;
- Wheezing when breathing;
- Irregular heartbeat;
- Chest pain;
- Burning sensation in the stomach;
- Swelling in the belly;
- Swelling in the legs;
- Digital clubbing;
- Loss of appetite;
- Weight loss;
- Caquexia;
- Excessive tiredness and drowsiness;
- Mental confusion.
The symptoms of respiratory failure can vary according to its cause, as well as the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body, and can appear slowly, in the case of chronic respiratory failure, or appear intensely and from one moment to the next. another, if it is an acute situation.
In any case, whenever respiratory changes are identified, it is very important to go to the emergency room or consult a pulmonologist, to confirm the diagnosis and start the most appropriate treatment.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of respiratory failure is made by a general practitioner or pulmonologist, but it can also be made by a cardiologist when it arises as a consequence of some cardiac alteration.
In most cases, this diagnosis can be made simply by evaluating the person’s symptoms, clinical history and monitoring their vital signs, but blood tests, such as blood gas analysis, can also be performed to assess the amounts of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Find out how blood gas analysis is performed.
Furthermore, when there is no apparent cause for the onset of respiratory failure, the doctor may also order a chest X-ray to identify whether there is a lung problem that could be causing the change.
Possible causes
Respiratory failure is caused by difficulty in the lungs in carrying out gas exchange, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the body or increases the amount of carbon dioxide, leading to the appearance of symptoms.
Respiratory failure can be caused by any disease or condition that directly or indirectly affects the lungs, the main ones being:
Furthermore, some heart problems, such as heart failure, can also result in respiratory failure, especially when treatment is not carried out properly. Learn how to identify heart failure.
Types of respiratory failure
The main types of respiratory failure are:
- Accute breathing insufficiency: appears suddenly due to obstruction of the airways, traffic accidents, drug abuse or stroke, for example;
- Chronic respiratory failure: appears over time due to other chronic diseases, such as COPD, preventing daily activities, such as climbing stairs, without feeling short of breath.
The type of respiratory failure is identified by the doctor during the assessment of the onset of symptoms, as well as the severity of the symptoms presented, causes and health history.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of acute respiratory failure must be carried out as quickly as possible in the hospital and, therefore, it is important to go to the emergency room immediately or call an ambulance by calling 192 whenever signs of difficulty breathing appear.
To treat respiratory failure, it is necessary to stabilize the patient, offering oxygen through a mask and monitoring their vital signs, and depending on the cause of the symptoms, starting a more specific treatment. Understand how oxygen treatment is carried out.
However, in cases of chronic respiratory failure, treatment must be carried out daily with medication to treat the underlying problem, and prevent the emergence of symptoms, such as intense shortness of breath, which can put life at risk. See more about treatment options for respiratory failure.
Bibliography
- LAMBA, TS; et al. Pathophysiology and Classification of Respiratory Failure. Crit Care Nurs Q. 39. 2; 85-93, 2016
- SHEBL, E.; ET AL. . (UPDATED 2022 JUL 7). IN: STATPEARLS (INTERNET). TREASURE ISLAND (FL): STATPEARLS PUBLISHING. Respiratory Failure. 2022. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526127/>. Accessed on Aug 25, 2022
- KEMPKER, YES; et al. The Epidemiology of Respiratory Failure in the United States 2002-2017: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study. Crit Care Explor. 2. 6; e0128, 2020
- NIH. Respiratory Failure. Available at: <https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/respiratory-failure>. Accessed on September 11, 2019
