Respiratory acidosis

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Respiratory system

Ventilatory failure; Respiratory failure; Acidosis - respiratory

Treatment is aimed at the underlying lung disease, and may include:

• Methods to stop smoking (this is extremely important)
• Bronchodilator drugs to reverse some airway obstruction
• Oxygen if the blood oxygen level is low
• Non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation or mechanical ventilation if the respiratory acidosis is severe

How well a patient does depends on the disease causing the respiratory acidosis.

• Respiratory failure
• Poor organ function
• Shock

Severe respiratory acidosis is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical help if you have symptoms of this condition.

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of lung disease.

Review Date: 02/14/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.