Ventilatory Failure Oxygenation Failure Combined Respiratory Failure Extrapulmonary Causes Intrapulmonary Causes V/Q Mismatch Dyspnea Orthopnea ARF Assessment ABG ARDS Refractory Hypoxemia Decreased Lung Compliance Surfactant Damage Mechanical Ventilation

Ventilatory Failure Oxygenation Failure Combined Respiratory Failure Extrapulmonary Causes Intrapulmonary Causes V/Q Mismatch Dyspnea Orthopnea ARF Assessment ABG ARDS Refractory Hypoxemia Decreased Lung Compliance Surfactant Damage Mechanical Ventilation PEEP CPAP Medications Prone Position ECMO Nursing Interventions Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026 What is ventilatory failure? (4) - Problem in oxygen intake (air movement or ventilation) and blood flow (perfusion) causing a ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch - Physical problem of lungs or chest wall - Defect in respiratory control center in brain - Poor function of respiratory muscles, especially diaphragm What are extrapulmonary causes of ventilatory failure? (3) - Smoking - Opioids - Sleep apnea What are intrapulmonary causes of ventilatory failure? (4) - COPD - PE - ARDS - Pneumothorax What is oxygenation failure? (5) - Insufficient oxygenation of pulmonary blood at alveolar level - Ventilation normal, lung perfusion decreased - Right to left shunting of blood - V/Q mismatch (when systemic venous blood (oxygen-poor) passes through the lungs without being oxygenated and is "shunted" to the left side of the heart and into the systemic arterial system) - Low partial pressure of O2 What are causes of oxygenation failure? - Smoke inhalation; carbon monoxide poisoning - Pneumonia - CHF with pulmonary edema - PE - ARDS - Hypovolemic shock - Hypoventilation What is combined ventilatory/oxygenation failure? (4) - Pt. with abnormal lungs - Diseased bronchioles & alveoli cause oxygenation failure - Work of breathing increases - Respiratory muscles unable to function effectively What types of patients have abnormal lungs? (3) - Chronic bronchitis - Emphysema - Asthma attack What is the hallmark sign of respiratory failure? DYSPNEA! What is assessment data for ARF? (8) - Dyspnea - Orthopena - ABGs - Restlessness - Irritability - Agitation - Confusion - Tachycardia