Lung Compliance and Disease (PK3)

Question 1

How does infant respiratory distress syndrome occur?

Answer 1

• Infant born with lack of surfactant
• Lungs are low compliance and smaller alveoli collapse
• Fibrinous hyaline membrane forms on alveolar membranes, hindering diffusion
• Infant must expends lots of energy to inflate lungs
• Infant become hypoxic, hypercapnic, acidotic and exhausted

Question 2

Why might an infant with infant respiratory distress syndrome be born with a lack of surfactant?

Answer 2

• Maternal diabetes mellitus
• Premature birth

Question 3

What is given to the infant if immature lungs are identified before birth?

Answer 3

Glucocorticoids

Question 4

How are infants who develop infant respiratory distress syndrome after birth treated?

Answer 4

Surfactant instilled into trachea

Question 5

Which disorders is adult respiratory distress syndrome associated with?

Answer 5

• Pneumonia
• Sepsis
• Smoke inhalation

Question 6

Damage of what causes adults respiratory distress syndrome?

Answer 6

• Alveolar-capillary interface
• Alveolar type II cells