Respiratory failure can be acute (happens suddenly) or chronic (happens
over time). The two most common types of lung failure are:
Hypoxemic respiratory failure which happens when you don’t have enough
oxygen in your blood (hypoxemia). Heart and lung conditions are the most
common causes.
Hypercapnic respiratory failure which happens when you have too much carbon
dioxide (CO2) in your blood. If your body can’t get rid of carbon
dioxide, a waste product, there isn’t room for your blood cells
to carry oxygen. The most common causes of hypercapnic respiratory failure
include heart, lung, muscle and neurological (brain and spinal cord) conditions.
Non-surgical lung failure treatments use medications or procedures to treat
respiratory failure, including:
Oral medications and inhaled medications such as an inhaler device or a
nebulizer machine opens up airways, allowing oxygen in and removing carbon
dioxide more effectively.
Oxygen therapy uses a mask or a pronged tube that is placed just under
the nose to deliver oxygen through the nose.
Ventilators are machines that helps you breathe by blowing air into your
airways and lungs.
Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation helps to keep your airways open
while you sleep by wearing a mask that creates mild air pressure to keep
the airways open.
Intravenous Fluids may be given to support proper blood flow and transportation
of nutrition throughout the body, without causing fluid to build up in
the lungs.
Tracheostomy involves surgically creating a hole in the front of your neck
and into your windpipe to improve your breathing. You may also receive
oxygen therapy through a tracheostomy
Pulmonary rehabilitation uses therapy to focus on exercise and education,
as well as breathing retraining, airway clearance, mental health support,
and nutrition.
When non-surgical medical therapy and interventions don’t offer relief
or exist, a lung transplant for patients with chronic, end-stage lung
disease may be recommended.
Lung transplant surgery
Your physician or pulmonologist may refer you to Tulane Transplant Institute
at EJ for evaluation to determine whether a lung transplant is the right
choice for you, and whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.
If all other non-surgical treatments have been ineffective, candidates
for a lung transplant may include those with:
Bronchiectasis.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cystic fibrosis (CF).
Interstitial lung disease (ILD).
Lung injuries.
Pulmonary hypertension.
Single or double lung transplants involve surgically replacing the diseased
heart with a new one to restore normal function and require lifelong medications
and management to prevent rejection.
