What will happen if a patient has respiratory compromise and is left untreated?

What will happen if a patient has respiratory compromise and is left untreated?

• A. Hyperoxia
• B. Hypoxia
• C. Hypertension
• D. Hypercapnia

Answer: (B)

When breathing isn’t adequate, not enough oxygen makes it into the blood to reach tissues. That causes hypoxia, a condition where the body's cells aren’t getting the oxygen they need to produce energy. If this isn’t treated, cellular energy fails, organs can begin to dysfunction, and the patient can deteriorate rapidly—brain and heart are especially vulnerable, leading to confusion, cyanosis, loss of consciousness, or even death. Hyperoxia would mean too much oxygen in the blood, which isn’t a consequence of respiratory compromise. Hypertension isn’t a direct result of untreated breathing problems. Hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide) can occur with poor ventilation, but the immediate and defining problem from untreated respiratory compromise is hypoxia.

When breathing isn’t adequate, not enough oxygen makes it into the blood to reach tissues. That causes hypoxia, a condition where the body's cells aren’t getting the oxygen they need to produce energy. If this isn’t treated, cellular energy fails, organs can begin to dysfunction, and the patient can deteriorate rapidly—brain and heart are especially vulnerable, leading to confusion, cyanosis, loss of consciousness, or even death.

Hyperoxia would mean too much oxygen in the blood, which isn’t a consequence of respiratory compromise. Hypertension isn’t a direct result of untreated breathing problems. Hypercapnia (high carbon dioxide) can occur with poor ventilation, but the immediate and defining problem from untreated respiratory compromise is hypoxia.