•  DYSPNEA / RESPIRATORY DISTRESS
  
  Differential diagnosis of acute dyspnea (UpToDate)
  Acute vs Chronic Dyspnea (UpToDate)
  
  
  Case 22-2014: Postpartum Dyspnea and Hypoxemia 
  Case 9-2014: in a 34 year old F: (Pulmonary Artery Hypertension / Connective Tissue Disease) 
  Dyspnea (A Key Miscommunication)
  Case 20-2014: ( Diffuse, isolated GGO / Lymphopenia)
  Case 2-2012 (Rapidly Progessive Respiratory Failure / Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis) 
  Case 7-2011 (Factors affecting HgbA1C and Oxygen saturation: Methemoglobinemia) 
  Case 6-2011 (Human granulocytotropic anaplasmosis) 
  Case 35-2010 (Multifocal Pulmonary Infiltrates / Coccoidiodomycosis) 
  Case 37-2012 (Antisynthetase Syndromes)
  Case 32-2012 (DAH and SLE Nephritis with Class V)
  Case 24-2010 (Radition Sequele)
  Case 40-2009 (Influenza) 
  Case 12-2010 (Pulmonary asbestosis / Interstitial Pneumonias)
  
  
• ACUTE HYPOXEMIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE – 2/2 diffusion problem (emphysema, pulmonary edema eg. CHF) or shunt (Pneumonia, PE) – improvement or not on oxygen supplement – currently on ..L/Nasal Canula Oxygen – O2 Sats …% 
• Inpatient Oxygen Therapy: 
• First Line Options: Standard Nasal Canula, Venturi Mask
• Second Line Options: Face Mask, Non-rebreather face mask with reservoir and one-way valve, Reservoir cannulas, High-flow transtracheal catheters, High-flow warmed and humidified nasal oxygen
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• http://www.thoracic.org/copd-guidelines/for-health-professionals/exacerbation/inpatient-oxygen-therapy/index.php
  

References:

1. Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure MKSAP 16

• RESPIRATORY ACIDOSIS : 2/2 Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure – ventilator defect (airway narrowing eg. COPD exacerbation) or respiratory depression (Opiod overdose, Toxic Metabolic Encephalopathy) – Awake and alert - on BiPAP – improving / worsening à Rx: