Tags: Disease.
Respiratory failure is inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system with the result that levels of arterial oxygen carbon dioxide or both cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial carbon dioxide levels is called hypercapnia. The normal reference values are: oxygen PaO2 less than 80 mmHg (11 kPa) and carbon dioxide PaCO2 greater than 45 mmHg (6.0 kPa).