BH ICU Manual
  • Home
  • Home

Hypercapnoeia (Type II Respiratory Failure)

Suggested approach and Clinical Pearls
  • Type 2 respiratory failure requires an acidosis associated with an abnormally high PaCO2
  • Improving patient ventilation resolves Type 2 respiratory failure
    • Open and maintain the airway
      • Consider airway management – chin lift, jaw thrust, oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal airways, LMA, ETT
    • Improve ventilation 
      • Patient characteristics
        • Sit up, reverse neuromuscular or respiratory depressant drug effects, decompress abdomen
      • Treatment options
        • Manual ventilation - BMV
        • mechanical ventilation – non-invasive or invasive (emergent full face non-invasive ventilation can be delivered in the inpatient setting while awaiting admission to ICU or determining whether aggressive therapy is indicated)
  • Consider location of ongoing care that is appropriate for patient based on patient needs, behaviour and anticipated plan
  • Home