section name header
Table 11.3
Investigation in Acute Respiratory Failure
Chest X-ray
Arterial
blood gases, pH and lactate
ECG
Full
blood count
C-reactive
protein
Blood glucose
Creatinine
and electrolytes
Plasma
BNP
or NT-proBNP
Blood culture
Sputum
microscopy and culture
Also consider:
Thoracic
ultrasonography if chest X-ray abnormal
Echocardiography if suspected cardiac disease
Neurological
investigation if suspected CNS or
neuromuscular
disease (see Chapter
17
).