Doctors were forced to intervene to clear mucus from the Pope's lungs. He remained alert throughout the process.
The 88-year-old pontiff has resumed the use of an oxygen mask and ventilator to assist his breathing, but remains "alert, focused and cooperative", the Vatican said.
The Pope has been in the hospital, where he was admitted with pneumonia.
This is the latest attack since being diagnosed with the sickness.
What is acute respiratory insufficiency?
Acute respiratory insufficiency is a condition in which the respiratory system (the lungs and airways) is unable to provide adequate oxygen to the body or remove enough carbon dioxide from the blood.
This leads to a state where the body’s tissues and organs may not receive the necessary oxygen they need to function properly, which can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly.
According to National Centre for Biotechnology Information, there are two types of acute respiratory insufficiency.
Type 1, also known as hypoxemia, occurs when the respiratory system cannot adequately provide oxygen to the body.
It can occur in cases of pneumonia, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), or severe asthma where the lungs cannot efficiently transfer oxygen to the blood.
Type 2 respiratory failure, known as hypercapnia, occurs when the respiratory system cannot adequately remove carbon dioxide from the body. It can be caused by respiratory pump failure and increased carbon dioxide production.
Symptoms of respiratory failure
According to Cleveland Clinic, the symptoms depend on the cause. Some of the symptoms include shortness of breath, rapid breathing, fatigue, fast heart rate and bloody mucus.
Other symptoms are excessive sweating, restlessness, pale skin, headache, blurred vision, and agitation, confusion or being unable to think straight.
Additionally, symptoms include bluish coloration on lips, fingertips, or toes, and drowsiness.
What causes respiratory failure?
Cleveland Clinic says respiratory failure happens when something keeps the body from getting oxygen into the blood or getting carbon dioxide out of the blood. Too little airflow or blood flow to your lungs.
This may be blockages, scarring or fluid in the lungs, inability to breathe properly or deeply enough, and abnormalities in the way blood flows through the heart.
Healthline adds that causes for chronic respiratory failure include damaged and/or narrow airways, which can occur in conditions like: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, asthma and cystic fibrosis.
It can also be caused by lung fibrosis, which can occur in conditions like pneumonia and interstitial lung disease, and from respiratory muscle weakness, which can occur with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Risk factors for respiratory failure
According to Cleveland, risk factors for respiratory failure are lung conditions and diseases, heart or circulatory (blood flow) conditions and diseases including heart attack, congenital heart disease, heart failure and shock.
Other factors are conditions that affect the nerves and muscles that help one breathe, chest, spinal cord or brain injuries (including stroke), smoking or exposure to other lung irritants, surgery that requires sedation or anesthesia, and drug use or excessive alcohol consumption.
