Which type of respiratory failure is characterized by low oxygen levels and elevated carbon dioxide levels?

Type II respiratory failure is characterized by low oxygen levels (hypoxemia) and elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia). This type of respiratory failure occurs when there is insufficient ventilation to eliminate carbon dioxide, leading to its accumulation in the blood. Typical conditions that can lead to Type II respiratory failure include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory muscle weakness, and severe bronchospasm, where the ability to effectively exchange gases is compromised.

In contrast, Type I respiratory failure is primarily marked by low oxygen levels with normal or low carbon dioxide levels, primarily due to conditions that affect oxygen exchange in the lungs, such as pneumonia or pulmonary edema. Restrictive and obstructive respiratory failures refer to mechanical issues with lung inflation and obstruction of airflow, respectively, but they do not specifically denote elevated carbon dioxide levels as a defining characteristic. Therefore, the identification of Type II respiratory failure focuses on the key problem of ventilation inadequacy leading to both low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels in the patient.