After 2 years studying on 100 patients with acute respiratory failure due to pneumonia from 2002 to 2004, the authors found out there were changes of the blood arterial gases (BAG) values compared with the normal values, as follows: there was a decrease of pH, PaO2, BEecf, PaCO2 decreased at the first phase and increased at next ones; there was increase of AaDO2; slight changes of HCO3. The changes of BAG correlated to levels of acute respiratory failure. The changes returned to normal values among the patients respond to the therapy, and worsen in patients who not responding and going to die.
Pneumonia ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Aged ; Blood Gas Analysis