Criteria for Respiratory Failure in Acute Pediatric Pulmonary Disease

Respiratory failure can be diagnosed in children with acute pulmonary disease based on certain general criteria.

Criteria	Finding
clinical	decreased or absent inspiratory breath sounds
	severe inspiratory retractions and use of accessory muscles
	cyanosis in 40% oxygen (FIO2 0.40)
	depressed level of consciousness and response to pain
	poor skeletal muscle tone
physiologic	PaCO2 >= 75 mm Hg
	PaO2 <= 100 mm Hg in 100% oxygen (*)

(*) The table in the original paper says "PaCO2<= 100 mm Hg". This seems to be an error.

acute respiratory failure can be diagnosed if

(1) 3 clinical findings is present AND

(2) 1 physiologic finding is present

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