Which of the following statements about hypoxemic respiratory failure is true?

Hypoxemic respiratory failure is characterized by inadequate oxygenation of the blood despite normal or near-normal ventilation. The correct statement is that it can result from pulmonary edema or pneumonia. Both conditions lead to impaired gas exchange within the lungs. In pulmonary edema, fluid accumulation in the alveoli interferes with the diffusion of oxygen into the blood, while pneumonia causes inflammation and infection in lung tissue that disrupt normal gas exchange, leading to decreased arterial oxygen levels.

The role of supplemental oxygen therapy in hypoxemic respiratory failure is important, but it does not address the underlying causes like pulmonary edema or pneumonia, which may require additional treatments such as diuretics or antibiotics. This highlights that while supplemental oxygen can improve oxygen delivery in many cases, it may not be sufficient on its own for conditions that involve significant lung injury or fluid overload.

Adequate ventilation is typically present in hypoxemic respiratory failure, hence the other statements regarding ventilation and CO2 retention do not accurately describe this type of respiratory failure. Increased CO2 retention is more characteristic of hypercapnic respiratory failure, and while supplemental oxygen therapy can help, it is not always fully reversible solely with this treatment.