Introduction
The respiratory system provides the body with the necessary amount of oxygen for normal functioning. However, a person’s lungs cannot function in chronic respiratory failure. As a result, people can have hypoxia, which leads to a lack of oxygen in the body cells. The treatment of this disease is chosen individually based on the patient’s condition and symptoms. Moreover, the treatment of chronic respiratory failure in children has nuances due to the age of the patients.
Pathophysiology
Respiratory failure can result from the malfunctioning of any component involved in the breathing process. That includes “upper and lower respiratory tracts, the central and peripheral nervous systems, in addition to the chest wall and muscles of respiration” (Shebl et al., 2022, para. 8). Type 1 respiratory failure is characterized by a lack of oxygen in the body patient until carbon dioxide levels can remain at normal levels. It leads to the energy starvation of cells, tissues, and organs. As a result, the body cannot fully and effectively function in conditions of oxygen starvation of tissues.
In children, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia can develop due to severe respiratory diseases, congenital pathologies, or disorders in the nervous system. Breathing is an unconditioned reflex in humans; however, this reflex may be absent due to disruption in the work of parts of the brain. In addition, according to Piaget’s theory, up to two years, “babies learn about the world through their senses” (Alifatin, 2022, p. 8). Therefore, a common cause of respiratory failure is the entry of foreign objects into the respiratory tract.
Since children, at the age of two years, cannot be responsible for many natural processes occurring in their bodies, the responsibility for the child’s safety lies with the parents. According to Erickson’s theory, from birth to 1 year, children develop a sense of trust in caregivers (Alifatin, 2022). Therefore, parents must meet the child’s basic needs for comfort and safety for normal development. In this case, the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory failure will be more efficient and effective since the child will not feel guilty for the disease that has arisen and will be able to trust the doctors who help them.
Causes of Chronic Respiratory Failure
In most cases, chronic respiratory failure is caused by direct or indirect damage to the lungs. For example, one of the direct causes is respiratory diseases like pneumonia (Marraro & Spada, 2020). In addition, bruises or foreign substances or gases entering the lungs are considered direct injuries.
Indirect causes of this disease include a foreign body in the airways, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological pathologies, and being overweight. However, most often, chronic respiratory failure occurs due to complications from respiratory system diseases (Shebl et al., 2022). Moreover, in case of delay in providing the necessary treatment, the patient’s symptoms and condition worsen, which can lead to coma or death.
Signs and Symptoms
Due to chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia, there is an inability to take a deep breath and shortness of breath, often exacerbated by patients’ anxiety. In addition, signs of the disease can be cyanosis of the skin, headaches, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness resulting from a lack of oxygen. In addition, it often causes cardiovascular disorders, including an increase in heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure (Shebl et al., 2022). As a result, patients may experience cardiac arrhythmia, leading to chronic heart disease.
Treatment
The treatment of this disease aims to improve the patient’s breathing capabilities, eliminate shortness of breath, and prevent the risks of worsening the patient’s condition. For hypoxemic patients, supplemental oxygen or high-flow nasal cannulae are recommended as therapy for dyspnoea (Faverio et al., 2019). That helps stabilize the oxygen level in the human body and saturate the cells.
However, Faverio et al. (2019) note that the use of these therapies often causes anxiety in patients “because of social stigma and concerns that oxygen prescription is associated with end-stage disease” (p. 973). Anxiety can cause hyperventilation of the lungs, which has negative consequences for patients. In addition, supplemental oxygen can cause atrophy of the respiratory organs, and the patient becomes dependent on O2 (Marraro & Spada, 2020). Another therapy method is non-invasive ventilation, which can be used for patients with severe conditions as part of palliative care.
The only long-term treatment for chronic respiratory failure is lung transplantation. While other therapies make breathing easier and temporarily relieve symptoms, transplantation promotes complete recovery. However, this treatment is used only for patients in severe conditions and is limited to “the number of available organs” (Faverio et al., 2019, p. 976). Moreover, transplantation requires a high level of doctor qualification and subsequent long-term therapy and rehabilitation for patients.
Conclusion
Thus, chronic respiratory failure with hypoxia is a serious respiratory disorder that significantly impairs patients’ quality of life and affects the functioning of all internal organs. It can occur both as a result of direct damage to the lungs and disturbances in the work of other body systems. If timely medical care is not provided, patients’ conditions may worsen and have negative consequences. However, most chronic respiratory failure treatments aim to relieve the symptoms and signs of the disease and cannot completely cure the patient.
References
Alifatin, A. (2022). Modeling and Role-Modeling Theory on Stunting Children in the Perspective of Philosophy. Web.
Faverio, P., De Giacomi, F., Bonaiti, G., Stainer, A., Sardella, L., Pellegrino, G., Sferrazza Papa, G. F., Bini, F., Bodini, B. D., Carone, M., Annoni, S., Messinesi, G., & Pesci, A. (2019). Management of Chronic Respiratory Failure in Interstitial Lung Diseases: Overview and Clinical Insights. International journal of medical sciences, 16(7), 967–980. Web.
Marraro, G. A., & Spada, C. (2020). Consideration of the respiratory support strategy of severe acute respiratory failure caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, 22(3), 183-194. Web.
Shebl, E., Mirabile, V. S., Sankari, A., & Burns, B. (2022). Respiratory Failure. National Library of Medicine. Web.