Definition of Respiratory acidosis
1. Noun. Acidosis resulting from reduced gas exchange in the lungs (as in emphysema or pneumonia); excess carbon dioxide combines with water to form carbonic acid which increases the acidity of the blood.
Medical Definition of Respiratory acidosis
1.
A metabolic derangement of acid-base balance where the blood pH is abnormally low.
Causes include haemorrhagic shock, cardiogenic shock, severe dehydration, sepsis, toxic ingestion (for example isopropyl alcohol, methanol), alcoholic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, renal failure and diabetic ketoacidosis. Respiratory acidosis will occur if the lungs are not ventilating properly resulting in an excess of carbon dioxide in the body.
(25 Jun 1999)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Respiratory Acidosis
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