Respiratory distress

Impaired pulmonary ventilation and/or oxygenation characterized by tachypnea (adults: >20/min), increased work of breathing (use of accessory muscles, retractions, nasal flaring), and objective gas exchange abnormality (SpO₂ < 92%), potentially progressing to respiratory failure if untreated. Possible causes are COPD, asthma, pneumonia, sepsis, anaphylaxis, ARDS, lung trauma, burns, toxic inhalation (fumes, smoke, water aspiration/drowning), heart failure, myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, pancreatitis, and massive blood transfusions.