Final answer:
Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure is associated with conditions like pneumonia and pulmonary edema that impair gas exchange in the lungs, leading to CO2 accumulation. Asthma typically causes hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis, not hypercapnia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acute hypercapnic respiratory failure is associated with conditions that impair respiratory function and lead to an accumulation of CO2 in the blood. This can result from a variety of issues, such as pneumonia, which is inflamed air sacs filled with fluid, congestive heart failure, or hypoventilation due to respiratory depressants or inadequate breathing. Of the options provided, pneumonia and pulmonary edema (commonly seen in heart failure) are closely linked to hypercapnia because they directly interfere with gas exchange in the lungs, leading to an accumulation of carbon dioxide. Pulmonary thromboembolism, while a serious condition, would not typically be associated with hypercapnic respiratory failure unless it leads to significant hypoventilation. Asthma may cause difficulty in breathing but generally leads to hyperventilation and would be more associated with respiratory alkalosis rather than hypercapnia.