Arterial blood gas analysis can judge the nature and degree of respiratory failure, which is of guiding significance for treatment. The blood gas analysis of patients with respiratory failure can be divided into the following three situations: first, there is only hypoxia without carbon dioxide retention, which is more common in cases of interstitial inflammation, edema or fibrosis thickening of the lung, which makes oxygen diffusion difficult, such as diffuse interstitial pneumonia-pulmonary fibrosis and (adult) respiratory distress syndrome; Secondly, hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention are common when alveolar ventilation is seriously reduced, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Third, there is carbon dioxide retention without hypoxia, which is more common in patients with respiratory failure of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cases with improper oxygen treatment, too much oxygen, too high oxygen concentration and no obvious improvement in airway obstruction, so the treatment plan needs to be adjusted.

The first aid of respiratory failure focuses on improving hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention, with keeping airway unobstructed as the primary link. Bronchodilators such as aminophylline and salbutamol can be given, and expectorants such as expectorant tablets, potassium iodide and ammonium chloride can be given, and antibiotics can be inhaled by local ultrasonic atomization to clean the airway. At the same time, oxygen should be given reasonably according to the results of blood gas analysis. If there is simple hypoxia, give high flow and high concentration (> 50%) oxygen; If it is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, continue to inhale low flow and low concentration (< 35%) oxygen through nasal obstruction or nasal catheter. After oxygen supply, the patient's dyspnea improved, cyanosis decreased and heart rate decreased, which indicated that oxygen inhalation was effective. If the patient is sleepy, or breathing slowly, shallowly and irregularly, respiratory stimulants such as coramine and lobeline should be added to promote sobriety and increase lung ventilation. If the above treatment is ineffective or aggravated, and there is disturbance of consciousness, tracheal intubation or tracheotomy should be performed, and a ventilator should be connected to assist or control breathing. It is worth emphasizing that the primary cause of respiratory failure is respiratory infection, so antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment is very important, usually intramuscular injection or intravenous injection of penicillin, and streptomycin can also be used. Erythromycin, gentamicin or cephalosporin can also be selected according to the situation. In this way, patients sometimes suffer from insomnia and excitement. Sedatives should be carefully selected and hypnotics should be banned, so as not to cause respiratory center depression and aggravate respiratory failure. For patients with edema and right heart failure at the same time, diuretics and foxglove should also be used with caution.