Ventilatory failure; Respiratory failure; Acidosis - respiratory

Treatment is aimed at the underlying lung disease, and may include:

• Bronchodilator drugs to reverse some types of airway obstruction
• Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (sometimes called CPAP or BiPAP) or mechanical ventilation if needed
• Oxygen if the blood oxygen level is low
• Treatment to stop smoking

How well you do depends on the disease causing the respiratory acidosis.

• Poor organ function
• Respiratory failure
• Shock

Severe respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you have symptoms of this condition.

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of lung disease.

Images

Respiratory system

Review Date: 08/08/2009
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)