Like heart disease, prognostication for those with chronic lung disease is extremely difficult. The terminal stage is marked by increasing visits to the emergency department and hospitalizations for infections and failing respiratory function.
Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs cannot oxygenate the blood (hypoxemia) and cannot eliminate elevated levels of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia).
- Hypoxemia causes deteriorating mental status and cyanosis; pulse and blood pressure are initially increased and then diminish as death nears.
- Hypercapnia has a sedative effect (carbon dioxide narcosis) and increases respiration and air hunger.
End-stage progression of pulmonary disorders often includes: