Ventilatory failure (hypercapnia): causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

By Cristiano Antonino On Jun 29, 2022

Hypercapnia, what causes ventilatory insufficiency? In the body, the production of the energy necessary for survival requires a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues

Respiration provides a constant supply of oxygen to the lungs, where this gas diffuses through the alveolar-capillary membrane into the blood (external respiration).

The circulatory system then distributes the oxygenated blood to various vascular beds, where oxygen is supplied to the various tissues (internal respiration).

In addition to providing oxygenation of the blood, the lungs also serve to rid the body of carbon dioxide (CO2), a residual product of metabolism.

Carbon dioxide, carried by venous blood, diffuses into the alveoli and is subsequently exhaled into the atmosphere.

Various diseases of medical interest can lead to inadequate gas exchange and thus respiratory insufficiency, which can be ventilatory (hypercapnia) or oxygenation (hypoxaemia).

The amounts of oxygen consumed and carbon dioxide produced each minute are determined by the extent of the patient’s metabolism.

Exercise and fever are examples of factors that increase the body’s metabolism and place greater demands on the respiratory system.

When the cardio-pulmonary reserve is limited by the presence of a pathological process, fever can represent an additional stress that can precipitate respiratory failure and thus tissue hypoxia.

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Ventilatory failure (hypercapnia)

In ventilatory insufficiency there is inadequate ventilation between the lungs and the atmosphere which ultimately results in an inappropriate elevation of the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) to values above 45 mmHg (hypercapnia).

Ventilatory failure (hypercapnia) is generally considered to be

mild with PCO2 between 45 and 60 mmHg;
moderate with PCO2 between 60 and 90 mmHg;
severe with PCO2 above 90 mmHg.

When PCO2 exceeds 100 mmHg, coma may occur and, above 120 mmHg, death.

PCO2 is measured by haemogasanalysis.

We remind the reader that the ability to inhale requires the full efficiency of the nervous system, which must stimulate the respiratory muscles.

The contraction of the diaphragm reduces intra-thoracic pressure and causes gas to penetrate the lungs.

Minimal effort is required for this activity if the rib cage is intact, the airways pervious and the lungs distensible.

The ability to exhale, on the other hand, requires patency of the airways and lung parenchyma, which has sufficient elasticity to keep the bronchioles open until exhalation is complete.

Hypercapnia, causes and risk factors

Causes of ventilatory insufficiency include: depression of respiratory centres by pharmacological substances, brain diseases, spinal cord abnormalities, muscle diseases, rib cage abnormalities and upper and lower airway obstructions.

Upper airway obstruction can occur during acute infections and during sleep, when muscle tone is reduced.

Numerous factors can contribute to inspiratory muscle weakness and tip the balance in favour of acute ventilatory failure.

Malnutrition and electrolyte disorders can weaken the ventilatory muscles, while pulmonary hyperinflation (e.g. from pulmonary emphysema) can make the diaphragm less efficient.

Lung hyperinflation forces the diaphragm to assume an abnormally low position, which in turn leads to a mechanical disadvantage.

These problems are common in patients with acute and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema).

Pathophysiology

An acute increase in PaC02 leads to a decrease in arterial blood pH.

The combination of elevated PaC02 and acidosis can have marked effects on the organism, especially when ventilatory failure is severe.

Severe acute respiratory acidosis results in impaired cognitive function due to depression of the central nervous system.

Cerebral and peripheral vessels dilate in response to hypercapnia.

Symptoms and signs

There are few clinical signs suggestive of elevated PaCO2.

Clinical signs suggestive of ventilatory failure include:

headache;
decreased vigilance;
warm flushed skin;
hypersyphilic peripheral pulses.

These findings are, however, extremely non-specific as they appear in numerous conditions other than ventilatory failure.

Since hypoxaemia is often present in a patient with ventilatory failure, it is common to observe the simultaneous appearance of signs of inadequate peripheral oxygenation.

Hypothermia and loss of consciousness are common findings, on the other hand, when ventilatory failure is the result of an overdose of substances with a sedative pharmacological effect. Sedatives and tricyclic antidepressants often result in pupillary dilation and fixation.

Tricyclic antidepressants also increase heart rate and blood pressure.

In the case of drug overdose, respiratory sounds are often evident despite the fact that aspiration has occurred.

This is more likely with sedative and alcohol abuse (as a result of the diminished swallowing reflex) and may result in rales in the right lower lobe.

Clinical signs of diaphragmatic fatigue are an early warning finding of respiratory failure in a patient with respiratory distress.

Such signs are, in fact, strongly suggestive of the need for immediate ventilatory assistance of the patient.

Diaphragm fatigue initially causes the appearance of tachypnoea, followed by periods of respiratory alternation or paradoxical abdominal breathing.

Respiratory alternation consists of the appearance of alternating for short periods of time between breathing with the accessory muscles and with the diaphragm.

Paradoxical abdominal breathing, on the other hand, is recognised on the basis of inward movement of the abdomen with each respiratory effort.

This phenomenon is due to the flaccidity of the diaphragm causing it to pull upwards whenever the accessory muscles of respiration create negative intrathoracic pressure.

Diagnosis of ventilatory failure (hypercapnia)

Anamnesis and objective examination are obviously the first steps in diagnosis.

Measurement of blood gas values is very important in assessing patients with ventilatory failure.

The severity of ventilatory failure is indicated by the extent of the increase in paCOz.

The assessment of blood pH identifies the degree of respiratory acidosis present and suggests the urgency of treatment.

The patient requires immediate treatment if the pH falls below 7.2.

Treatment

Acute elevation of arterial PCO2 indicates that the patient is unable to maintain adequate alveolar ventilation and may require ventilatory assistance.

PaCO2 does not have to exceed normal values for there to be an indication for ventilatory assistance.

For example, if the PaCO2 is 30 mmHg and then, due to respiratory muscle fatigue rises to 40 mmHg, the patient may benefit considerably from immediate intubation and mechanical ventilation.

This example therefore clearly illustrates how documenting the trend (“trending”) of arterial PaCO2 values can help in giving an indication for assisted ventilation.

Once the patient has been intubated, the set tidal volume should be 10-15 cc/Kg of ideal body weight (e.g. in obese patients a huge tidal volume is not necessary).

Current volumes below this tend to result in collapse of the more peripheral lung units (atelectasis), while current volumes above 10-15 cc/kg tend to overdistend the lungs and can cause barotrauma (pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum).

The ventilatory rate needed by the patient depends on his metabolism, although

adult subjects usually require 8-15 respiratory acts/minute. However, ventilation is modified in most patients to maintain PaCO2 values between 35 and 45 mmHg. An exception is the patient with cerebral oedema, in whom lower PaCO2 values may prove useful in reducing intracranial pressure
Another exception is patients with chronically high PaCO values in whom the aim of mechanical ventilation is to bring the pH back within normal limits and the patient’s PCO2 back to its baseline values. If the patient with chronic hypoventilation and CO2 retention is ventilated vigorously enough until a normal PCO2 is achieved, the problem of respiratory alkalosis arises in the short term and weaning the patient off mechanical ventilation in the long term.

The doctor should however determine the cause of the ventilatory failure before starting symptomatic treatment.

In the case of drug overdose, efforts should be made to identify the compound responsible, the amount of drug ingested, the length of time since ingestion and the presence or absence of traumatic injury.

Since hypoxaemia is often present in a patient with ventilatory failure, it is common to observe the simultaneous appearance of signs of inadequate peripheral oxygenation.