Merck Manual

Please confirm that you are a health care professional

honeypot link

Overview of Respiratory Failure

By

Bhakti K. Patel

, MD, University of Chicago

Reviewed/Revised May 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
View PATIENT EDUCATION

Acute respiratory failure is a life-threatening impairment of oxygenation, carbon dioxide elimination, or both. Respiratory failure may occur because of impaired gas exchange, decreased ventilation, or both. Common manifestations include dyspnea, use of accessory muscles of respiration, tachypnea, tachycardia, diaphoresis, cyanosis, altered consciousness, and, without treatment, eventually obtundation, respiratory arrest, and death. Diagnosis is clinical, supplemented by measurements of arterial or venous blood gases (ABGs or VBGs) and chest x-ray. Treatment is usually in an intensive care unit and involves correction of the underlying disorder, supplemental oxygen, and ventilatory assistance if needed.

The respiratory system oxygenates and eliminates carbon dioxide from venous blood. Thus, a useful classification of respiratory failure is whether the principal abnormality is

View PATIENT EDUCATION
NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
quiz link

Test your knowledge

Take a Quiz! 
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
iOS ANDROID
TOP