ABSTRACT
Respiratory failure is one of the most common reasons for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) following trauma or critical illness, and remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. This chapter reviews the pathophysiology of acute respiratory failure (ARF), and provides a practical approach to diagnosis and therapeutic management. This review is complementary to the material covered in Volume 2, Chapter 24, which surveys the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
