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Respiratory failure can cause shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and air hunger (feeling like the pt' can't breathe in enough air). Using a stethoscope, a doctor can listen to lungs for abnormal sounds, such as crackling.
the doctor also may listen to heart for signs of an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). An arrhythmia can occur if your heart doesn't get enough oxygen.
the doctor might look for a bluish color on skin, lips, and fingernails. A bluish color means the blood has a low oxygen level.
Respiratory failure also can cause extreme sleepiness and confusion, so the doctor might check
how alert the pt. are.
Depends on mechanisms and gas changes in arterial blood respiratory failure is divided in two types:`the1-st type respiratory failure is hypoxic and is characterised by reducing only partial tension of oxygen less than <60mmHg;2-nd type respiratory failure is characterised by changing of both gases in arterial blood ,oxygen and carbon dioxide and the name of second type RF is ventilatory due to failure one of mechanisms of respiratory drive:Hypoxia +Hypercapnia(PCO2>45mmHg) and may be respiratory acidosis(Ph<7,35) in acute form of respiratory failure2-nd type.
Initial assessment would be breathing pattern, level of consciousness and color. Respiratory failure for adults when looking at breathing pattern will likely be shallow, irregular and either fast/slow. A patient usually exhibits poor level of consciousness because they have developed from a distressed status into a more acute level of respiratory failure-an ABG would identify the level of oxygen/c02 to confirm mental status. And color could indicate failure vs. distress. Capillary refill can help to indicate if the patient is possibly hypovolemic, cyanotic or blotchy redness-all signs of impending respiratory failure.
