Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) occurs when the lungs have trouble loading blood with oxygen or removing carbon dioxide from it. Similarly, It is also defined as the inability of the body’s pulmonary system to meet its metabolic needs in blood oxygenation and co₂ removal (Choi et al., 2018, p. 104). Respiratory failure is common in any server lung disease and is part of a multi-organ failure. Additionally, it is divided into type I and type II.
Hypoxaemia
Hypoxaemia occurs when there is low oxygen in the bloodstream. This is brought about by damage in one of the lung tissue. However, the remaining lung is still helpful in excreating the co₂ produced through metabolism (Turtle, 2020, p. 705). This is made possible because co₂ excretion requires a less functioning lung compared to the oxygenation process.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of a patient suffering from hypoxemia include:
- Shortness of breath,
- Drowsiness,
- Headaches,
- Fatigue,
- Rapid breathing.
Diagnosis
Patients who suffer from respiratory failure can die unless they receive medical attention. Some of the methods used to diagnose hypoxemia patients include:
- Tidal volume and vital capacity. Measures used to diagnose hypoxemia patients. Practical in monitoring progress in individuals with respiratory inadequacy due to neuromuscular issues, the vital capacity diminishes as weakness grows (Friedman and Nitu, 2018).
- Blood gas analysis. It makes alterations in acid-base equilibrium easier to detect. Monitoring hypoxemia can also be done by looking at changes in oxygenation.
- Pulse oximetry. It measures blood oxygen saturation.
Treatment
Treatment for hypoxemia is always aimed at increasing oxygen levels in the blood. Treatment is administered through medication, mainly in an inhaler that allows the patient to breathe the medicine in his or her lungs (Rochwerg et al., 2017, p. 160). In severe cases, the doctor prescribes oxygen therapy.
Reference List
Choi, H.S. et al., 2018. Respiratory failure in a diabetic ketoacidosis patient with severe hypophosphatemia. Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, 23(2), pp.103–106. Web.
Friedman, M.L. & Nitu, M.E., 2018. Acute Respiratory Failure in Children. Pediatric Annals, 47(7). Web.
Rochwerg, B. et al., 2017. Official ERS/ATS clinical practice guidelines: noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure. European Respiratory Journal, 50(2), p.160. Web
Turtle, L., 2020. Respiratory failure alone does not suggest central nervous system invasion by SARS‐CoV‐2. Journal of Medical Virology, 92(7), pp.705–706. Web.