6C: RLD III Flashcards
What is a PE?
Thrombus from a clot travels through the vein system to the right side of the heart and then lodges in a pulmonary artery
What is the primary effect of PE?
Causes blockage of blood flow at an area of the lung so no perfusion or gas exchange can occur
What are other possible effects of PE?
- Edema and hemorrhage at site of blockage
- Edema triggers inflammatory process
- Alveolar collapse causing regional atelectasis
Why is the location of a PE significant?
Determines the severity of the impairment
What location of a PE is most severe?
In a more proximal artery due to larger area of ischemia
Is PE life threatening?
Yes if the clot is large enough, but only 10% result in death
What % of surgical deaths is the result of PE?
3%
What are the three clinical pulmonary signs of PE?
- Acute SOB
- Fatigue and malaise
- Decreased breath sounds, possibly wheezing
How will x-rays and labs look with a PE?
Normal
What non-pulmonary symptoms may a person with PE have?
- Syncope
- LE pain
- Chest pain (pleuritic)
How is PE diagnosed?
V/Q scan, pulmonary angio, spiral CT
What is pneumonia?
Acute inflammation of the lungs due to bacteria, virus, or fungus
How does pneumonia develop?
- Inflammatory process due to pathogen
- Increase in fluid for pathogen to multiply in
- Limits body’s ability to fight pathogen
Describe fluid that is infiltrating vs consolidating
Infiltrating: fluid accumulating in lung
Consolidation: when fluid fills an entire lung segment
What happens when an entire lung segment fills with fluid with pneumonia?
V/Q mismatch