How to grade respiratory failure

Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
Updated on November 07, 2024
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Respiratory failure is generally not graded; instead, it is classified into types. There are two types, Type I and Type II. Type I is characterized by an oxygen tension lower than 60 mmHg, at which point, there is no increase in carbon dioxide, and the carbon dioxide level is normal. Type II respiratory failure is when the oxygen tension is below 60 mmHg, accompanied by an increase in carbon dioxide, which is then termed Type II respiratory failure. Regarding respiratory failure, it is classified by type and not by severity grade. This means that once it meets these criteria, it is referred to as respiratory failure, and at this point, some emergency treatments to improve low oxygen levels are necessary. Therefore, respiratory failure is generally not graded into mild, moderate, or severe degrees. It is only differentiated into different types. Of course, there are different severity levels in respiratory failure, but we generally do not apply a specific degree of severity.

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Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
1min 6sec home-news-image

How to grade respiratory failure

Respiratory failure is generally not graded; instead, it is classified into types. There are two types, Type I and Type II. Type I is characterized by an oxygen tension lower than 60 mmHg, at which point, there is no increase in carbon dioxide, and the carbon dioxide level is normal. Type II respiratory failure is when the oxygen tension is below 60 mmHg, accompanied by an increase in carbon dioxide, which is then termed Type II respiratory failure. Regarding respiratory failure, it is classified by type and not by severity grade. This means that once it meets these criteria, it is referred to as respiratory failure, and at this point, some emergency treatments to improve low oxygen levels are necessary. Therefore, respiratory failure is generally not graded into mild, moderate, or severe degrees. It is only differentiated into different types. Of course, there are different severity levels in respiratory failure, but we generally do not apply a specific degree of severity.

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Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
1min 29sec home-news-image

Care for patients with respiratory failure

Patients with respiratory failure are always emergency and critically ill patients in clinical settings. For patients with respiratory failure, we need to pay close attention in nursing: first, strictly monitor the patient's vital signs, observe the frequency of respiration, blood pressure, and consciousness state; take good care of the skin and oral cavity to prevent dependent pneumonia and bedsores; and timely remove the patient’s sputum. Encourage conscious patients to cough more and expectorate sputum. For those with weak coughs, assist regularly with turning and patting the back to facilitate the removal of sputum. For comatose patients, mechanical suction or tracheostomy for mechanical ventilation can be performed. At the same time, avoid factors that can induce respiratory difficulty such as cold air and poor air circulation. Patients with respiratory failure consume a lot of energy, especially those on mechanical ventilation, who are in a stress state with increased catabolism. Therefore, daily protein intake should be increased, encourage the patient to eat more to enhance nutrition, and provide a diet high in protein, high in fat, and low in carbohydrates.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Does respiratory failure spread?

Respiratory failure is a condition characterized by significant decline in respiratory function and is clinically very serious, being a common critical and acute illness. Respiratory failure itself is not contagious, but certain diseases that cause respiratory failure can be contagious. For example, if it is caused by infectious pulmonary tuberculosis, then the tuberculosis can be transmitted, but respiratory failure itself is not contagious.

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Written by Li Fang Xiao
Internal Medicine
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Is respiratory failure serious?

Respiratory failure is a relatively severe disease, with the most common causes being chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure, which are frequently seen in clinical settings. Respiratory failure can be definitively diagnosed by performing blood gas analysis. Clinically, patients will exhibit symptoms of breathing difficulty, such as orthopnea or wheezing. In blood gas analysis, oxygen saturation is often below 90%, and the partial pressure of oxygen is less than 60 mmHg. These indicators can diagnose respiratory failure. Although respiratory failure is a serious condition, it can be recoverable through active symptomatic treatment, identifying the underlying cause, and eliminating aggravating factors.

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Written by Peng Miao Yun
Internal Medicine
56sec home-news-image

Can respiratory failure be cured?

Respiratory failure is a critical condition in clinical settings, characterized by high mortality rates and the potential to impair multiple organ functions, thus endangering the lives of patients. However, in cases of chronic respiratory failure, it is generally incurable, as the respiratory function of these patients has already declined significantly. For patients with acute respiratory failure, the possibility of recovery is closely tied to the ability to diagnose early and administer effective treatment promptly. If acute respiratory failure is treated effectively early on by removing the trigger and the cause, and if the respiratory function can significantly improve within a short time, then there is still a chance for a cure.