Respiratory acidosis occurs when there is a accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the body, which is gas excreted by the lungs during expiration. The retention of CO2 in the body increases the concentration of carbonic acid, leading to acidosis.
Respiratory acidosis arises when the lungs can not properly eliminate carbon dioxide. This can happen in cases of alcohol intoxication, sedative medications and anesthetics, as well as chest trauma that causes pulmonary disorders such as pneumothorax and hemothorax.
Other causes of respiratory acidosis include intracranial tumors, sedative use, sleep disordered breathing, lung diseases (pneumonia, COPD), obesity, and respiratory muscle fatigue due to neuromuscular diseases.
Therefore, respiratory acidosis is caused by factors, diseases, or disorders that hinder or depress normal breathing. As a result, the air is not exhaled properly and the carbon dioxide accumulates in the body.
The signals and symptons of respiratory acidosis include respiratory effort, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, neurological changes, headache, mental confusion, fatigue, decreased urine production, ketone breath, reduced capacity for contraction of the heart muscle, among others.
O treatment respiratory acidosis aims to improve breathing, maintaining good oxygenation and adequate lung ventilation. Treatment may include administration of oxygen, removal of respiratory secretions, treatment of lung infection, and other measures.
The pulmonologist is the specialist for respiratory acidosis.
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