RespiratoryAnaesthesia & ICU
Acute Respiratory Failure / NIV Indications
Type 1 vs Type 2 respiratory failure, oxygen targets, NIV/CPAP indications and contraindications, escalation to invasive ventilation.
Source: BTS/ICS 2016; BTS Oxygen 2017
Step 1 of ~4
info
Classify Respiratory Failure
• Type 1: hypoxia (PaO₂ <8 kPa) + normal/low PaCO₂ — V/Q mismatch (pneumonia, PE, pulmonary oedema, ARDS).
• Type 2: hypoxia + hypercapnia (PaCO₂ >6 kPa) — alveolar hypoventilation (COPD, neuromuscular, OSA, kyphoscoliosis, opioid overdose, exhausted asthma).
• ABG essential.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Drugs
- Dobutamine (Acute HF / Stress Echo) · Inotrope / Acute Heart Failure
- Milrinone · Inodilator / Acute Heart Failure
- Mannitol (Osmotic Diuretic — Renal/Neurological) · Acute Oliguric Renal Failure / Raised ICP
- Doxapram hydrochloride · Respiratory stimulant
- Glyceryl Trinitrate (Sublingual / IV) · Nitrate / Acute Angina
- Vericiguat · Heart Failure
Pathways
- Acute Asthma in Adults · BTS/SIGN British Guideline on Asthma 2019; NICE NG80
- Pulmonary Embolism Assessment · NICE NG158; ESC 2019 PE Guidelines
- Acute Exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) · NICE NG115; GOLD 2024
- Spontaneous Pneumothorax (Adult) · BTS Pleural Disease 2023
- Atypical Pneumonia (Legionella / Mycoplasma / Chlamydophila) · BTS 2023; IDSA
- COPD Exacerbation Management · NICE NG115 / GOLD 2024
Decision support only. Always apply local guidelines and clinical judgement.