Acute Respiratory Failure Flashcards
1
Q
Breathing regulators
Normal lung function vs COPD
A
- In persons with normal lung function, high levels of carbon dioxide stimulate respiration.
- Persons with COPD maintain higher levels of carbon dioxide as a baseline, and their ventilatory drive in response to increased carbon dioxide levels is blunted. In these patients, the stimulus to breathe is hypoxemia, a low level of oxygen in the blood.
2
Q
Adventitious breath sounds
A
- Crackles
- Rhonchi
- Wheezes
- Pleural friction rub
- Stridor
3
Q
Adventitious breath sounds
Stridor
A
Usually an indicator that pt has to be intubated. Airways too narrow.
4
Q
Oxygenation
PaO2
A
- PaO2: Partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood.
- Normal value 80 to 100 mmHg
- Decreases in elderly 60-80 yo –> 60 to 80 mmHg
- Value < 60 mmHg is treated (hypoxemia)
- Value < 40 mmHg is life threatening because oxygen is not available for metabolism. Without treatment, cellular death occurs.
- Normal = 80 - 100 mmHg
- Mild hypoxemia = 60 - 80 mmHg
- Moderate hypoxemia = 40 - 60 mmHg
- Severe hypoxemia = below 40 mmHg
5
Q
Work of breathing
A
- Amount of effort required to maintain ventilation
- As WOB increases, more energy is needed
- If the WOB becomes too high, respiratory failure ensues and mechanical ventilator support is warranted.
6
Q
Respiratory failure
A
- A state of altered gas exchange resulting in abnormal blood gas values
- PaO2 < 60 mmHg and/or PaCO2 arterial blood value > 50 with a pH less than 7.30
7
Q
Compliance and resistance
A
- Compliance
- Distensibility or stretchability of the lung and chest wall.
- Determined by elasticity, “recoil”
- Compliance is better measured under static conditions
- Resistance
- Opposition to gas flow in the airways due to airway length, airway diameter, or flow rate of gases
8
Q
ABGs
A
pH = 7.35 - 7.45 PaCO2 = 35 - 45 HCO3 = 22 - 26
9
Q
Types of hypoxemia
Type I Hypoxemic
A
- Impaired gas exchange
- Oxygenation failure
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary edema
- ARDS
- Aspiration
- Atelectasis
10
Q
Types of hypoxemia
Type II Hypercapneic Hypoxemic
A
- Impaired breathing pattern
- Ventilatory failure
- COPD
- Neurological system failure to stimulate respiration
- Muscular failure
- Skeletal alterations
11
Q
PE
Risk factors
A
- Cardiovascular disease or COPD
- History of DVT
- Immobilization
- Surgery within the last 3 months
- Malignancy
12
Q
PE
Clinical manifestations
A
- Dyspnea: sudden onset
- Tachypnea
- Pleuritic Chest Pain: pain on inspiration
- Cough
- Hemoptysis: coughing up bloody sputum
- Anxiety- feeling of impending doom
- Tachycardia
- Fever
13
Q
PE
Virchow’s Triad
A
Three main mechanisms that favor the development of VTE
- Venous stasis
- Altered coagulability
- Damage to vessel walls
14
Q
PE
Most useful diagnostic test
A
Spiral CT
15
Q
PE
Treatment
A
- Oxygen/ ventilator support
- Thrombolytics
- Anticoagulants- Heparin
- Inferior Vena-Cava Filters (IVC)
- Surgery
16
Q
Pneumothorax
Definition
A
Air in the pleural space