Respiratory Failure⚡Mnemonic⚡

Causes of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “BEAR CUB”
• B – Bronchitis
• E – Emphysema
• A – Asthma
• R – Respiratory muscle weakness
• C – COPD
• U – Upper airway obstruction
• B – Bronchiectasis

Triggers for Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “PARROT”
• P – Pneumonia
• A – Aspiration
• R – Rib fracture
• R – Respiratory depressants (like opioids)
• O – Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
• T – Trauma to the chest

Risk Factors For Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “SNAKE”
• S – Smoking history
• N – Neuromuscular disorders
• A – Advanced age
• K – Kyphoscoliosis
• E – Environmental pollutants

Warning Signs of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “OWL”
• O – Oxygen saturation drop
• W – Wheezing
• L – Labored breathing

Predisposing Factors of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “CAMEL”
• C – Chronic lung diseases
• A – Anemia
• M – Malnutrition
• E – Excessive sedation
• L – Lung infection

Signs & Symptoms of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “FISH”
• F – Fatigue
• I – Increased heart rate
• S – Shortness of breath
• H – Hypoxia

Characteristic Findings In Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “DOVE”
• D – Decreased lung compliance
• O – Obstructive lung patterns
• V – Ventilation-perfusion mismatch
• E – Elevated CO2 levels

What Should Be Avoided In Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “CAT”
• C – Confining spaces (poor ventilation)
• A – Air pollutants
• T – Tobacco smoke

Drugs Used To Treat Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “PIGEON”
• P – Prednisolone
• I – Ipratropium
• G – Glucocorticoids
• E – Epinephrine
• O – Oxygen therapy
• N – Nebulized bronchodilators

Drugs To Avoid In Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “RAT”
• R – Respiratory depressants
• A – ACE inhibitors (in certain cases)
• T – Theophylline (careful monitoring required)

Radiological Features of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “EAGLE”
• E – Effusions
• A – Atelectasis
• G – Ground-glass opacities
• L – Lung hyperinflation
• E – Enlarged pulmonary artery

Diagnostic Tests for Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “DUCK”
• D – D-dimer test (for PE)
• U – Ultrasound of the chest
• C – CT scan
• K – KUB (Kidney, Ureter, and Bladder) X-ray to rule out abdominal causes

Laboratory Findings In Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “HAWK”
• H – Hypercapnia
• A – Acidosis
• W – WBC count elevated (infection)
• K – Potassium imbalances

Clinical Features of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “SWAN”
• S – Sputum production changes
• W – Wheezing
• A – Altered mental status
• N – Nasal flaring

Complications of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “FOX”
• F – Failure of multiple organ systems
• O – Oxygen toxicity (with prolonged high-concentration O2 therapy)
• X – eXacerbation of underlying lung diseases

Differential Diagnosis of Respiratory Failure:

• Mnemonic: “PANDA”
• P – Pulmonary embolism
• A – Acute coronary syndrome
• N – Neurological disorders (like Guillain-Barré syndrome)
• D – Drug overdose
• A – Anaphylaxis