[Respiratory failure caused by chest wall changes].

Changes and impairments of the chest wall are associated with skeletal or neuromuscular system illnesses. However, they can lead to significant pulmonary function impairment with the development of respiratory failure and chronic cor pulmonale. These are: kyphoscoliosis, ankylotic spondylitis, sternum deformities, and obesity. Kyphoscoliosis, i.e. curvature of the spinal column in postero-anteral (kyphosis) and lateral (scoliosis) direction is most common. Severe deformity leads to the development of restrictive ventilatory insufficiency, ventilation--perfusion mismatching, diffusion abnormalities and the appearence of hypoxemic respiratory failure, i.e. hypoxamic-hypercapnic failure in the terminal phase of the disease. Associated diseases of the pulmonary parenchyma lead to more rapid progression of respiratory failure. Diagnosis is based on clinical and radiographic findings, pulmonary function tests. Therapy is oxygen and treatment of complications.