Editing Respiratory failure (section)

== Cause ==
A variety of conditions that can potentially result in respiratory failure.<ref name="mirabile">{{Citation |last=Mirabile |first=Vincent S. |title=Respiratory Failure |date=2023 |url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526127/ |work=StatPearls |access-date=2023-11-15 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=30252383 |last2=Shebl |first2=Eman |last3=Sankari |first3=Abdulghani |last4=Burns |first4=Bracken}}</ref> The etiologies of each type of respiratory failure (see below) may differ, as well. Different types of conditions may cause respiratory failure:
* Conditions that reduce the flow of air into and out of the lungs, including physical obstruction by foreign bodies or masses and reduced breathing due to drugs or changes to the chest.<ref name=mirabile/>
*Conditions that impair the lungs' blood supply. These include [[Thromboembolism|thromboembolic conditions]] and conditions that reduce the output of the [[right heart]], such as [[right heart failure]] and some [[myocardial infarction]]s.
* Conditions that limit the ability of the lung tissue to [[Gas exchange|exchange]] oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the air within the lungs. Any disease which can damage the lung tissue can fit into this category. The most common causes are (in no particular order) [[Lower respiratory tract infection|infections]], [[interstitial lung disease]], and [[pulmonary edema]].
[[File:Respiratory failure.jpg|center|thumb|Causes of respiratory failure]]