NURS 3122 Chapter Notes - Chapter 25.1: Etiology, Chest Physiotherapy, Pulmonary Compliance
22 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Respiratory failure occurs when the body can no longer maintain effective gas exchange. It often results from a serious acute or chronic respiratory or neuromuscular condition. The physiologic process that ends in respiratory failure begins with hypoventilation of the alveoli. Hypoventilation occurs when the body"s need for oxygen exceeds actual oxygen intake, such as when the airway is partially occluded, lung injury has occurred, or the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the alveoli is disrupted. This disruption may occur for any of the following reasons: A malfunction of the respiratory center stimulation occurs (the alveoli do not receive the message to diffuse, such as may occur with opioid overdose). The muscles of ventilation are fatigued and do not work effectively (e. g. , a severe asthma episode or muscular dystrophy). The relationship between ventilation and perfusion (blood flow to the alveoli) is impaired.
