CCRN Chronic Respiratory Failure

CCRN Chronic Respiratory Failure Overview 

Respiratory failure can happen when your respiratory system is unable to remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood, causing it to build up in your body. The condition can also develop when your respiratory system can’t take in enough oxygen, leading to dangerously low levels of oxygen in your blood.

Respiratory failure may be acute or chronic. Acute respiratory failure is a short-term condition. It occurs suddenly and is typically treated as a medical emergency. Chronic respiratory failure, however, is an ongoing condition. It gradually develops over time and requires long-term treatment.

Chronic respiratory failure usually happens when the airways that carry air to your lungs become narrow and damaged. This limits air movement through the body, which means that less oxygen gets in and less carbon dioxide gets out.

Chronic respiratory failure can also be classified as hypoxemic or hypercapnic respiratory failure. Low blood oxygen levels cause hypoxemic respiratory failure. High carbon dioxide levels cause hypercapnic respiratory failure.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of chronic respiratory failure may not be noticeable at first. They usually occur slowly over an extended period of time. When symptoms do develop, they may include:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, especially when active
• coughing up mucous
• wheezing
• bluish tint to the skin, lips, or fingernails
• rapid breathing
• fatigue
• anxiety
• confusion
• daily headache

Causes

Diseases and conditions that commonly lead to chronic respiratory failure include:

• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• complicated pneumonia
• cystic fibrosis
• spinal cord injuries
• stroke
• muscular dystrophy
• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
• injury to the chest
• drug or alcohol misuse
• smoking

Treatment

Although acute respiratory failure is a medical emergency that must be treated in a hospital, chronic respiratory failure may be managed at home, depending on its cause. In severe cases, medical professionals can help you manage the condition in a long-term healthcare center.

Treatment options typically include:

• treating the underlying cause of respiratory failure
• removing excess carbon dioxide from the blood
• increasing oxygen levels in the blood