COPD and Respiratory Failure Monitoring

A 65-year-old male patient has been admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He reports increasingly severe shortness of breath and a chronic cough that produces yellow-green sputum. His vital signs indicate tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and mild fever. A chest X-ray reveals hyperinflation of the lungs and the presence of infiltrates.

Given this patient’s condition, one potential complication is respiratory failure, which occurs when the respiratory system fails in oxygenating blood or eliminating carbon dioxide. In the context of COPD, exacerbations often lead to a decline in the patient's baseline function. The nursing care plan should therefore include careful monitoring of arterial blood gases (ABGs) to assess the patient’s respiratory status.

Considering the pathophysiology of respiratory failure, fill in the blank with the most appropriate term: In COPD exacerbations, the primary disturbance during respiratory failure is an increase in ___________.