3. Definitions
acute respiratory failure occurs when:
– pulmonary system is no longer able to meet
the metabolic demands of the body
hypoxaemic respiratory failure:
– PaO2 60 mmHg when breathing room air
hypercapnic respiratory failure:
– PaCO2 50 mmHg
10. How much oxygen is in the
blood
PaO2
SaO2
Oxygen content (CaO2)
11. How much oxygen is in the blood
PaO2
• The amount of dissolved oxygen in the plasma phase --
and hence the PaO2 -- is determined by alveolar PO2
and lung architecture only
SaO2
• The percentage of hemoglobin molecule bounded with
oxygen.
Oxygen Content CaO2
• CaO2 = Hb (gm/dl) x 1.34 ml O2/gm Hb x SaO2 + PaO2 x
(.003 ml O2/mm Hg/dl)
14. Carbon dioxide out
Largely dependent on alveolar ventilation
Alveolar ventilatio n RR x (V - V )T D
Anatomical dead space constant but
physiological dead space depends on
ventilation-perfusion matching
15. Carbon dioxide out
• Patient Vt f Ve Description
–A (400) (20) = 8.0 L/min slow and deep
–B (200) (40) = 8.o L/min fast/shallow
• Patient Va-Vd f Va Description
–A (400-150)(20) = 5.0 L/min slow and deep
–B (200-150)(40) = 2.0 L/min fast/shallow
16. Acute Lung Compromise
Increase work of breathing
Muscle fatigue
Shallow breathing followed
by increase in RR
Increase PaCO2
28. Causes of respiratory failure
Respiratory Center in Brain
Brain
Neuromuscular Connections
(peripheral nervous system)
Nerves
29. Causes of respiratory failure
Respiratory Center in Brain
Brain
Neuromuscular Connections
Thoracic Bellows
(intact rib cage and chest wall musculature)
Nerves
Bellows
30. Causes of respiratory failure
Respiratory Center in Brain
Brain
Neuromuscular Connections
Thoracic Bellows
Airways (upper & lower)
Nerves
Bellows
Airways
31. Causes of respiratory failure
Respiratory Center in Brain Brain
Neuromuscular Connections
Thoracic Bellows
Airways (upper & lower) Nerves
Alveoli
All the links are disrupted ! Bellows
Airways
Alveoli
32. Shunting
• Intra-pulmonary
– Pneumonia
– Pulmonary oedema
– Atelectasis
– Collapse
– Pulmonary haemorrhage or contusion
• Intra-cardiac
– Any cause of right to left shunt
• eg Fallot’s, Eisenmenger,
• Pulmonary hypertension with patent foramen ovale
38. Summary
• worry if
• RR > 30/min (or < 8/min)
• unable to speak 1/2 sentence without pausing
• agitated, confused or comatose
• cyanosed or SpO2 < 90%
• deteriorating despite therapy
• remember
• normal SpO2 does not mean severe
ventilatory problems are not present
48. Ventilate?
• Severity of respiratory failure
• Cardiopulmonary reserve
• Adequacy of compensation
– Ventilatory requirement
• Expected speed of response
– Underlying disease
– Treatment already given
• Risks of mechanical ventilation
49. Ventilate?
• 43 year old male
• Community acquired pneumonia
• Day 1 of antibiotics
• PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, pH
7.15 on 15 l/min via reservoir facemask
• Respiratory rate 35/min
• Agitated
No Yes
50. Yes
• 43 year old male
• Community acquired pneumonia
• Day 1 of antibiotics
• PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, pH
7.15 on 15 l/min via reservoir facemask
• Respiratory rate 35/min
• Agitated
51. Yes
• 43 year old male
• Community acquired pneumonia
• Day 1 of antibiotics
• PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, pH
7.15 on 15 l/min via reservoir facemask
• Respiratory rate 35/min
• Agitated
52. Yes
• 43 year old male
• Community acquired pneumonia
• Day 1 of antibiotics
• PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, pH
7.15 on 15 l/min via reservoir facemask
• Respiratory rate 35/min
• Agitated
53. Yes
• 43 year old male
• Community acquired pneumonia
• Day 1 of antibiotics
• PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, pH 7.15
on 15 l/min via reservoir facemask
• Respiratory rate 35/min
• Agitated
54. Yes
• 43 year old male
• Community acquired pneumonia
• Day 1 of antibiotics
• PaO2 60 mmHg, PaCO2 30 mmHg, pH
7.15 on 15 l/min via reservoir facemask
• Respiratory rate 35/min
• Agitated
55. Ventilate?
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to ER with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert
No Yes
56. No
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to A&E with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert
57. No
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to A&E with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert
58. No
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to A&E with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert
59. No
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to A&E with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert
60. No
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to A&E with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert
61. No
• 24 year old woman
• Presents to A&E with acute asthma
– SOB for 2 days
• Salbutamol inhaler, no steroids
• PFR 60 L/min, HR 105/min
• pH 7.25 PaCO2 51 mmHg, PaO2 315 mmHg on
FiO2 0.6
• RR 35/min
• Alert