Short guide to prehospital treatment of acute respiratory failure

Abstract

Acute respiratory failure is a life-threatening emergency condition in which respiratory insufficiency leads to hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Breathing is, as one of the basic vital functions, dependant on the interaction of multiple organs and organic systems, and respiratory insufficiency can be the result of different diseases and pathological conditions. Emergency medicine physicians must be capable of early recognition, early diagnosis and treatment of such critical patients before and during transport to the intensive care unit. This article presents basic ethiological aspects, clinical findings, ABCD examination, diagnosis and prehospital treatment of acute respiratory failure.

Keywords

• acute respiratory failure
• recognition
• treatment
• prehospital