Treatment for respiratory failure

Content:

The treatment of respiratory failure should be guided by a pulmonologist and usually varies according to the cause of the disease and the type of respiratory failure, and acute respiratory failure should always be treated in hospital.

In the case of chronic respiratory failure, treatment can be done at home with:

  • Medicines that help air get into the lungs : Medicines such as Carbocysteine ​​or Acebrophylline decrease the amount of secretions in the lungs, improving oxygen levels in the blood;
  • CPAP : is a device that facilitates breathing during sleep and, therefore, is widely used when the patient has decreased oxygen levels during the night. Learn more about this device at: CPAP ;
  • ​Portable oxygen mask : it is used when the patient has shortness of breath during the day to do daily activities, such as climbing stairs or working, for example;
  • Tracheostomy : this type of treatment is only used when respiratory failure is caused by diseases in the mouth and throat, such as tumors or cancer.

In addition to these treatments and depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor may also recommend physical therapy to strengthen the respiratory muscles and facilitate the entry of oxygen into the lungs, reducing the need for treatment over the years.

During treatment, the patient should make regular appointments with the pulmonologist to assess their blood oxygen levels and reassess the treatment, avoiding the emergence of very serious complications, such as respiratory or cardiac arrest.

In the most severe cases, where the patient has great difficulty breathing or cannot control oxygen levels with the above treatments, the patient must be admitted to the hospital to be connected to a ventilator.

Physiotherapy treatment for respiratory failure

Physiotherapy treatment for respiratory failure, also known as kinesiotherapy, should be done in specialized clinics, at least 3 times a week, to help eliminate excess secretions and increase lung capacity, improving breathing and oxygen levels in the lungs. blood.

Read more about this type of physiotherapy at: Respiratory physiotherapy .

Signs of improvement in respiratory failure

Signs of improvement in respiratory failure usually appear 3 days after starting treatment and include decreased sensation of shortness of breath, reduced tiredness, normal breathing and pink fingers, for example.

Signs of worsening respiratory failure

Signs of worsening respiratory failure come when treatment is not working or is not being done properly, including difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, excessive tiredness when walking, dizziness, chest pain or cold, bluish fingers.

Complications of respiratory failure

The main complications of respiratory failure include coma, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest.

Learn more about this problem at: Respiratory failure .