Gas Exchange Flashcards
What is gas exchange ?
process by which oxygen is transported to cells and carbon dioxide is transported from cells
What are the 3 causes of impaired gas exchange ?
- ineffective ventilation
- reduced capacity for gas transportation (decreased Hgb, RBC)
- inadequate perfusion
Which types of patient’s are priorities ?
with SOB or chest tightness
What types of lung sounds indicate fluid in the lungs ?
crackles
Why is an Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) laboratory test better than a pulse ox ?
it gives us a exact level of O2 in the blood
- pulse ox gives a approximation
What type of conditions most commonly affect the upper respiratory system ?
inflammatory responses
What is the common cold ?
viral infection that starts in the upper respiratory tract, sometimes spreading to the lower structures
What happens with a allergic or seasonal rhinitis ?
when the upper airways respond to a specific allergen
What is sinusitis ?
when the epithelial lining of the sinus cavities becomes inflamed
- caused by bacteria or viruses
What is influenza ?
an infection caused by any of several strains myxoviruses
What is special about the upper respiratory tract treatments ?
treatment is symptomatic only not curative
- Empiric therapy: treats the most likely cause
- it’s difficult to identify where cause is viral or bacterial that’s why its empiric lots of times
What is important about a patient with a cough ?
don’t want to stop a productive cough
- can cause pneumonia
What is empiric therapy ?
giving a broad antibiotic for the most likely cause
Why don’t we give cold and cough products to kids younger then 2 yrs old ?
causes oversedation, seizures, tachycardia, and even death in toddlers
- evidence that such meds are simply not effective in small children
What is the protective mechanism for the lower airway ?
all tubes in the lower airways contain goblet cells
- these secrete mucus to entrap any particles
- lower airway is considered sterile
- upper airway protects the lower airway using the cilia to move along bacterial away from the lower airway