Which of the following describes hypoxemic respiratory failure?

Hypoxemic respiratory failure is characterized primarily by inadequate transfer of oxygen across the alveolar-capillary membrane, leading to decreased oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxemia). This condition arises when the lungs are unable to effectively oxygenate the blood, which can occur due to various causes such as pneumonia, pulmonary edema, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

In this context, the inability to transfer sufficient oxygen makes option A the most accurate descriptor of hypoxemic respiratory failure. It encompasses the core issue of hypoxemia and highlights the dysfunction of oxygen exchange as the primary problem, distinguishing it from other types of respiratory failures.

The other options do not accurately define hypoxemic respiratory failure. Ventilatory failure, indicated in option B, typically relates to an inability to adequately ventilate, which would lead to hypercapnia instead of hypoxemia. Similarly, option C describes a scenario where acid-base imbalances occur due to elevated carbon dioxide levels, pertinent to hypercapnic or ventilatory failure, not hypoxemia. Lastly, option D incorrectly suggests that hypoxemic failure is linked to increased lung compliance, which is not a common trait of conditions causing hypoxemia; rather, it is often associated with decreased compliance in conditions