Which of the following factors is NOT a characteristic of hypoxemic respiratory failure?

Which of the following factors is NOT a characteristic of hypoxemic respiratory failure?

• A. Increased respiratory rate
• B. Metabolic acidosis
• C. Hypoxemia not responsive to supplemental oxygen
• D. Inability to provide adequate ventilation

Answer: (B)

The characteristic that indicates the absence of a typical feature of hypoxemic respiratory failure is metabolic acidosis. Hypoxemic respiratory failure primarily involves inadequate oxygenation despite adequate ventilation, leading to low arterial oxygen levels (hypoxemia). Increased respiratory rate is a compensatory mechanism that occurs as the body attempts to improve oxygenation. The body responds to hypoxemia by increasing the rate and sometimes the depth of ventilation. Hypoxemia that is unresponsive to supplemental oxygen is a hallmark of hypoxemic respiratory failure. This occurs in conditions such as severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), where despite the administration of oxygen, effective gas exchange is not achieved. The inability to provide adequate ventilation generally pertains more to hypercapnic respiratory failure, characterized by elevated carbon dioxide levels due to poor ventilation. While there can be overlap in clinical scenarios, hypoxemic respiratory failure is focused primarily on inadequate oxygenation rather than inadequate ventilation or acid-base balance issues.

The characteristic that indicates the absence of a typical feature of hypoxemic respiratory failure is metabolic acidosis. Hypoxemic respiratory failure primarily involves inadequate oxygenation despite adequate ventilation, leading to low arterial oxygen levels (hypoxemia).

Increased respiratory rate is a compensatory mechanism that occurs as the body attempts to improve oxygenation. The body responds to hypoxemia by increasing the rate and sometimes the depth of ventilation.

Hypoxemia that is unresponsive to supplemental oxygen is a hallmark of hypoxemic respiratory failure. This occurs in conditions such as severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), where despite the administration of oxygen, effective gas exchange is not achieved.

The inability to provide adequate ventilation generally pertains more to hypercapnic respiratory failure, characterized by elevated carbon dioxide levels due to poor ventilation. While there can be overlap in clinical scenarios, hypoxemic respiratory failure is focused primarily on inadequate oxygenation rather than inadequate ventilation or acid-base balance issues.