Acute Respiratory Failure

Question 1

definition of respiratory failure

Answer 1

• dysfunction of the respiratory system that results in abnormal gas exchange that is potentially life threatening

Question 2

hypoxia defined as

Answer 2

• PaO2 <60 mm Hg

Question 3

hypercarbia defined as

Answer 3

• PCO2 > 50

Question 4

you can get headache and/or impaired mental status or coma with

Answer 4

• hypercapnia

Question 5

examples of shunt

Answer 5

• atelectasis
• pneumonia
• edema

Question 6

examples of dead space

Answer 6

• conducting airways
• pulmonary bullae
• pulmonary embolism

Question 7

V/Q of shunt

Answer 7

• 0

Question 8

V/Q of alveolar dead space

Answer 8

• infinity

Question 9

what is a cause of hypoxemia respiratory failure that does not respond to O2 therapy

Answer 9

• shunt

Question 10

how do we treat physiologic shunt

Answer 10

• treat with antibiotics

- open up more alveoli - positive pressure ventilation

Question 11

pulmonary embolism can cause V/Q mismatch how

Answer 11

• by decrease perfusion leading to increased dead space

Question 12

if dead space is present, why not hypercapnia? how can patients lower their CO2 levels?

Answer 12

• by increasing their minute ventilation

Question 13

what is a big sign of diffusion limited hypoxia

why

Answer 13

• exacerbation with exercise

- inadequate transit time for oxygenation and no reserve

Question 14

what are two ways you could be hypoxemic due to hypoventilation

Answer 14

• low respiratory rate

- not enough tidal volume

Question 15

hypoxemia respiratory failure with high alveolar arterial oxygen gradient due to

Answer 15

• V/Q mismatch
• shunt
• diffusion

Question 16

hypercapneic respiratory failure occurs from decreased alveolar ventilation from

Answer 16

• inadequate minute ventilation

- increased dead space ventilation