Defined as a partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) of 50mm Hg or less on room air or a partial pressure of arterial CO2 (PaCO2)

of 50mm Hg or more with a pH less than or equal to 7.25. appears within minutes, hours or days. is an immediate life threatening condition.

Site Examples Respiratory centre (CNS) (II) Depressant drugs, opiates; traumatic and ischemic lesions, stroke Loss of respiratory sensitivity to CO2 Spinal cord and peripheral Spinal injury, Guillain Barre, poliomyelitis nerves (II) Neuromuscular junction (II) Myasthenia, neuromuscular blocking drugs Muscle (II) Myopathies, respiratory muscle fatigue in COPD, Muscular dystrophy Pleura and thoracic cage (I) Flail chest, pneumothorax, haemothorax Deformities, trauma (e.g. rib fractures), loss of optimal shape due to chronic lung hyperinflation Airways (I and II) Extrathoracic: foreign bodies, croup Intrathoracic: asthma, bronchiolitis, bronchitis, COPD Emphysema, pulmonary edema, ARDS, pneumonia Pulmonary embolus, ARDS

Gaseous exchange ( I) Lung vasculature (II)

Type 1 or Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure or Partial RF, or Non-ventilatory RF - Hypoxemia without hypercapnia and indeed the PACO2 may e normal or low.

Causes : Pulmonary Edema, Near-drowning, Adult (Acute) Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Pneumonia, Bleeding into the chest, Lung Tumors, Pulmonary fi rosis, Pneumothorax

Type 2 or Ventilatory or Hypoxemic- Hypercapnic or Glo al Respiratory Failure -ina ility of the ody to sustain respiratory drive or ina ility of the chest wall and muscles to mechanically move air in and out of the lungs leading to elevated PACO2 level(hallmark). Causes: CNS depression, inadequate neuromuscular a ility, respiratory system overload, Pulmonary em olus, COPD, Asthma.