Respiratory acidosis
Alternative Names
Ventilatory failure; Respiratory failure; Acidosis - respiratorySymptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Confusion
- Easy fatigue
- Lethargy
- Shortness of breath
- Sleepiness
Exams and Tests
A chest x-ray or CT scan is a helpful way of checking the lung's appearance without having to biopsy it.
Pulmonary function tests are a series of breathing tests that evaluate lung capacity.
An arterial blood gas test involves having blood drain and directly measuring the amounts of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and acids.
References
Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000: 191-192.
Marx J., Hockberger R, Walls R Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2005.
Ford MD, Clinical Toxicology. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2001:92.
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