Physiology Flashcards
What is P50?
● P50 is the PO2 at which 50% of the hemoglobin present in the blood is in the deoxyhemoglobin state and 50% is in the oxyhemoglobin state.
● (At a temperature of 37C, a pH of 7.4 and PCO2 of 40mmHg, normal human blood has a P50 or 26 or 27mmHg. If the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve is shifted to the right, the P50 increases. If it is shifted to the left, the P50 decreases).
What factors cause rightward shift of oxygen hemoglobin dissociation curve?
c. Increased temperature
d. Reduced pH
e. Increased 2,3 DPG
f. Increased PCO2
what is the shunt equation and what assumptions to use the shunt equation?
Qs/Qt = blood flow through shunt/total cardiac output = CcO2 - CaO2 /CcO2 - Cv02
Concept: end capillary oxygen content (ideal) - arterial oxygen content /total cardiac output
Ideally: CcO2 = CaO2 (that being said, there is physiologic shunt)
Oxygen content = 1.39 x Hb x % saturation + 0.003PaO2
Assumptions:
- CcO2: saturation is 99%, Hb is measured Hb
- CaO2: these values of PaO2 and % saturation are actually measured
- CvO2 (mixed venous): assume a saturation of 75% and PaO2=45
Shunt is venous admixture–how much venous blood is mixed with the arterial blood. (The blood that shunt is basically venous blood)
If the patient is on 100% oxygen, then the equation can be reduced to 1-SaO2/1-SvO2
What is normal shunt fraction and why does physiologic shunt exist?
Normal: 2-5%
- But, the normal lung has physiologic shunt because:
- Bronchial circulation: blood going to lungs via bronchial circulation and it oxygenates the lung itself, but then it doesn’t go through the lung to get more oxygen and so it’s deoxy blood when it goes through pulmonary veins
- Thesbian veins: coronary vein blood (deoxy blood) that is dumped directly into left ventricle
- Capillary shunt: if unventilated alveoli or if blood directly passes from arterial to venous through anastomoses and bypasses capillaries
- Because there is a normal shunt, PAO2 is not the same as PaO2
How do you clinically sort out if someone has a shunt?
Hyperoxia test: give 100% oxygen x 10 minutes. Measure preductal PaO2 before and after. If PaO2 increases by >150 mmHg, then it’s likely a pulmonary reason for low saturations. If minimal increase, then it’s likely a shunt. To avoid doing a blood gas, a “poor” man’s version is monitoring >10% increase in oxygen saturation, though this is less reliable.
Also do an echo to look for intracardiac shunt
What conditions cause elevated DLCO?
asthma, obesity, pulmonary hemorrhage
- polycythemia
- mild left heart failure
- exercise
I think the theory for obesity: ventilation is heterogeneous so the same holds true for blood flow, so in areas of blood flow–>there is a higher concentration of hemoglobin
What PFT abnormalities are associated with obesity?
- reduced ERV, FRC - this happens early on in obesity
- reduced FVC, reduced FEV1 (proportionately reduced) - signs of restriction with progression of obesity
- reduced TLC
- normal or elevated FEV1/FVC (although increased risk of asthma with obesity since the extra fat is proinflammatory)
- reduced MIP/MEP
- increased DLCO
(because FRC is lower, then it will be closer to closing volume. FRC is even lower in the supine position)
Physiologic features:
- decreased lung compliance, since lower FRC means more unfavorable position on compliance
- hypercapneic respiratory failure
- increased work of breathing since lower lung compliance and the respiratory muscles are in a less favorable position
- abnormalities in ventilation distribution
What is normal MIP/MEP?
Normal is 80-120
<60 is associated with symptomatic respiratory impairment
<20 - will require mechanical ventilation
With diving, what is the change in partial pressure for every 10 metres dived?
10 metres of depth corresponds to 1 atm = 760 mmHg
Contraindications for diving, as based on BTS?
- Blebs or cysts
- Cystic fibrosis
- Fibrotic lung disease
- Spontaneous pneumothorax without having had bilateral pleurodesis + normal lung function and thoracic CT post
- Traumatic pneumo is ok if healed, normal spirometry and CT scan
- Active sarcoid
- Active TB
Recommendations for asthma patients re: diving?
- Free of asthma symptoms
- Asthma not triggered by cold, emotion or exercise
- Normal spirometry
- Negative exercise challenge (<15% drop in FEV1 at end of test)
- At the time of the dive:
- Can’t required relievers in 48 hours leading up to dive
- Need to do BID monitoring of PEF. If >10% drop from baseline leading up to dive or >20% diurnal variation, then not advised to dive
Investigations prior to diving, as based on BTS?
- If history of current respiratory symptoms, prior lung disease or chest trauma—>need an evaluation before diving—>spirometry and CXR
- If no respiratory concerns, then don’t need routine evaluation, but may benefit from physical exam, spirometry, but don’t need CXR
- If anything is abnormal on evaluation (like abnormal spirometry or CXR)—>not recommended to dive
Central and peripheral chemoreceptor location and what they respond to?
Central chemoreceptor: responds to PCO2 by responding to changes in pH of the CSF. Located largely on ventral surface of medulla, but also newly discovered locations like cerebellum.
Peripheral chemoreceptor: responds to PO2, PCO2 and pH. Located in carotid body and aortic arch. Carotid body receptors are the most important
What is the mechanism of nitric oxide?
The conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline is done by NO synthetase and also results in production of NO (endogenous NO).
- Both endogeneous NO and exogenous NO stimulate soluble guanylate cyclse to promote conversion of GTP–>cGMP, which then causes a decrease in smooth muscle tone and decreases intracellular calcium
What is the mechanism of action of sildenafil and tadalafil?
- They are PDE5 inhibitors
- PDE5 is an enzyme which breaks down cGMP
- so this part of the NO pathway for vasodilation
Mechanism of action of riociguat?
Guanylate cycllase stimulator (similar to NO)
Side effects of nitric oxide?
- Hemodynamic instability: pulmonary edema if there is pulmonary vein obstruction, decreased systemic blood pressure
- Rebound pulmonary hypertension (even in patients whose pulmonary hypertension doesn’t benefit from NO)
- ## Methemoglobinemia: higher risk with doses above 20-40 ppm
Which cytokines are involved in the Th1 pathway? Th2 pathway?
Th1 pathway: IL-12 promotes differentiation of Th0 into Th1 cell, IL2, INF gamma, TNF alpha promote cell mediated immunity
Th2 pathway: IL4 promotes differentiation of Th0 into Th2 cell. IL4, 5 and 13 contribute to allergy, eosinophilia, IgE production, airway hyper-responsiveness.
Why doesn’t atelectasis always cause hypoxemia?
Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction
What is the difference between SpO2 and SaO2? How does an oximeter work?
SpO2 is the measured pulse oximetry. Traditional oximeter has 2 wavelengths of light (660 nm and 940 nm).
HbO2 absorbs at 660 nm
Normal Hb absorbs at 940
HbO2/Hb + HbO2
SaO2 is the calculated saturation on a blood gas, based on PaO2
○ The oximeter measurements are timed with arterial pulse so you get an arterial oxygen saturation
Limitations of oximetry?
○ Does NOT detect COHb or methemologlobin or dyshemoglobin
○ Perfusion
○ Technical issues: skin pigmentation, nail polish, motion artifact
What is the difference between type 1 and type 2 respiratory failure?
Hypoxemic respiratory failure (type I) is characterized by an arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) lower than 60 mm Hg with a normal or low arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). This is the most common form of respiratory failure, and it can be associated with virtually all acute diseases of the lung, which generally involve fluid filling or collapse of alveolar units. Some examples of type I respiratory failure are cardiogenic or noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
Hypercapnic respiratory failure (type II) is characterized by a PaCO2 higher than 50 mm Hg. Hypoxemia is common in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure who are breathing room air. The pH depends on the level of bicarbonate, which, in turn, is dependent on the duration of hypercapnia. Common etiologies include drug overdose, neuromuscular disease, chest wall abnormalities, and severe airway disorders (eg, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]).
What are the factors that affect residual volume in a healthy person?
- Chest wall recoil: stiff chest wall such as with kyphoscoliosis then there is a higher residual volume
- Expiratory muscle strength: neuromuscular disease than high RV
- Elastic recoil: fibrotic lung disease then high elastic recoil and low residual volume. Emphysema then low elastic recoil and high residual volume.
- Airway resistance
What are the changes in lung and chest wall mechanics with obesity?
- Chest wall is less compliant
- Lung is less compliant
- Lower FRC–>decreased airway calibre–>increased resistive
- Less compliance–>increased elastic work of breathing
What is the relationship between compliance and elastic recoil?
inverse relationship
- as compliance increases, elastic recoil decreases (eg. emphysema–>inflating a thin grocery bag which doesn’t store much potential energy)
- as compliance decreases, elastic recoil increases (eg. fibrotic lung)
What is the reason for sigh breaths and yawning?
- A chance to exhale more CO2
- With normal breathing, we inhale more O2 than we do exhale CO2 in typical tidal breathing
Why does dead space ventilation exist in the first place? Why not build a lung with no dead space?
- Having airways will decrease resistance
- Balance between decreasing resistance and minimizing dead space
What is the effect of exercise on dead space?
- Exercise leads to capillary recruitment–>less alveolar dead space, no change in anatomic dead space, but overall physiologic dead space decreases
How does lying down (from upright position) affect dead space?
- More blood flow to all parts of lung since lose the effects of gravity–>less alveolar dead space
- Apparently, there is also less anatomic dead space (not sure why)
What is reynold’s number and what are some clinical applications?
- this describes if flow is turbulent versus laminar
- as the number increases, then the flow is more turbulent
- 2(radius)(density)(velocity)/viscosity
- radius–>bigger airways have more turbulent flow
- density–>low density gas like helium has more laminar flow (I think this is the idea behind heliox)
- velocity–>if you slow down the velocity of gas with pursed lip breathing then there is more laminar flow. With exercise, there would faster velocity and more turbulent flow. (I wonder if VCD exercises would also decrease flow and turbulence)
What is the general anatomic organization of airways?
- Trachea
- Mainstem bronchi
- The next level of bronchi (Eg. right upper lobe bronchus)
- The segmental level bronchi
- By the 4th generation, you are at the level of bronchioles, which don’t have cartilage
- Generation 4-16: bronchioles with no cartilage
- Generation 16: terminal bronchiole
- There are exchange units after level of terminal bronchiole (respiratory bronchiole, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs)
- Everything distal to a terminal bronchiole is called an acinus, and it’s a gas exchange unit
At what level of airway, does the greatest resistance exist?
- Generation 5-7
At which lung volumes is there decreased lung compliance?
- at the extremes so high lung volume and low lung volume
at high lung volume, what happens with elastic and resistive work of breathing?
- Less resistance so less resistive work of breathing
- Less compliance so increased elastic work of breathing
Which lung pressure can be measured as a surrogate for work of breathing? What affects work of breathing?
- Ppl (intrapleural pressure) is a surrogate for work of breathing
- Increased work of breathing if:
- Increased flow, such as with exercise
- Increased resistance
- Increased lung elastic recoil
- With increased resistance and elastic recoil, there has to be a more negative Ppl to generate flow
How do patients with “stiff lung” breathe?
- lower tidal volume, higher respiratory rate
- lower tidal volume will decrease elastic work of breathing
- even though patients need to breathe faster, there is still overall less work of breathing
What is the role of oxygen therapy in most pulmonary diseases?
Many pulmonary diseases result in hypoxemia (whether it’s acute VQ mismatch from pneumonia or asthma or impaired diffusion from ILD). Giving oxygen will increase the pressure gradient for diffusion of oxygen, to prevent hypoxemia. Oxygen will not solve the underlying problem.
There may be a very slight triggering of the respiratory drive by hypoxemia, but I don’t think that’s the main reason for tachypnea in these diseases. I think it’s more so the changes in lung compliance and resistance that result in increased work of breathing. (Oxygen will not treat work of breathing or tachypnea).
Why is it necessary that the pulmonary circulation be a low pressure system?
- Very thin alveolar capillary layer–>high pressure will cause rupture of capillaries
- pulmonary circulation is a low pressure, high capaciance system
What are typical pressures in systemic circulation versus pulmonary circulation?
- Systemic: aortic = 100 mmHg, vena cava = 2 mmg Hg
- Pulmonary: artery = 15 mmHg, vein = 8 mmHg
What is the effect of gravity on ventilation and perfusion of the lung?
Dependent locations of the lung have better ventilation and better perfusion. (You want ventilation and perfusion to be matched as best as possible).
- Although the top of the lung is actually more distended at baseline, the bottom of the lung receives more ventilation since it’s at a more favorable portion of the compliance curve
- Perfusion: better perfusion at the bottom (makes sense because of gravity)
- West zones of perfusion:
- At the top: Palveolar (surrounding pressure) > Parterial (minimal perfusion. This is not usually the case, but is relevant when there is PEEP)
- Middle zone: pressure gradient depends on Palveolar - Psurrounding (there is development of an equal pressure point)
- Lower zone: flow depends on Parterial - Pvenous
How does ventilation perfusion relationship compare at bottom and top of lung?
Bottom: better perfusion than ventilation (V/Q<1)
Top: better ventilation than perfusion (V/Q>1)
How does compliance vary between bottom and top of lung?
- Bottom of the lung is less distended and more compliant and that’s why there is better ventilation of the bottom of the lung
Normal PaO2?
Normal PvO2?
Normal PaO2 is 80-100 mmHg
Normal PvO2 is 40 mmHg
What is the respiratory exchange ratio?
- ratio of CO2 production relative to oxygen consumption
- 0.8 (not a perfect 1:1 relationship; I think this is the reason for sigh breath and yawning)
What causes an elevated A-a gradient?
- basically, all the mechanisms of hypoxemia, except for hypoventilation
- V/Q mismatch
- shunt
- diffusion
Why is exercise a sensitive time for detecting pulmonary hypertension problems and ILD problems?
- With exercise, there is less time available for diffusion of oxygen as a RBC moves along a blood vessel (since there is a much higher cardiac output)
- In ILD, diffusion is slower because of a thicker interstitium so more likely to have desaturation
- There is normal recruitment and distension of capillaries during exercise to increase surface for diffusion, but this is not possible pulmonary hypertension
What is the difference between SpO2 versus SaO2?
SpO2 is the saturation as measured using a pulse oximeter. This is an estimate of the SaO2, which is measured using a blood gas.
Type 1 versus type 2 respiratory failure?
ypoxemic respiratory failure (type I) is characterized by an arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) lower than 60 mm Hg with a normal or low arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2). This is the most common form of respiratory failure, and it can be associated with virtually all acute diseases of the lung, which generally involve fluid filling or collapse of alveolar units. Some examples of type I respiratory failure are cardiogenic or noncardiogenic pulmonary edema, pneumonia, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
Hypercapnic respiratory failure (type II) is characterized by a PaCO2 higher than 50 mm Hg. Hypoxemia is common in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure who are breathing room air. The pH depends on the level of bicarbonate, which, in turn, is dependent on the duration of hypercapnia. Common etiologies include drug overdose, neuromuscular disease, chest wall abnormalities, and severe airway disorders (eg, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]).
Respiratory failure may be further classified as either acute or chronic. Although acute respiratory failure is characterized by life-threatening derangements in arterial blood gases and acid-base status, the manifestations of chronic respiratory failure are less dramatic and may not be as readily apparent.
Which cytokines are important for eosinophil activation once recruited to the lung?
IL5
GMCSF
Where are the central and peripheral chemoreceptors located? What do they respond to?
- Peripheral chemoreceptors are located in the carotid body and aortic arch. They primarily response to PaO2 (but they do also contribute to CO2 response)
- Central chemoreceptors are located in the medullla, in a group of neurons called the retrotrapezoid nucleus. They respond to pH
- The drives from central and peripheral chemoreceptors are additive
Where is the central respiratory control centre located and what groups of neurons are part of it?
- Major control centre (which is the pacemaker for breathing) is in medulla and pons
- Main groups of neurons:
- Pre-Botzinger complex which is for inspiratory rhythm generation
- Parafacial respiratory group, which for expiratory musculature control (so exhalation is usually passive from a work of breathing perspective, but surpisingly not from a control of breathing perspective)
How does vital capacity change from upright to supine position? what happens in patients with neuromuscular disease?
- Supine position: vital capacity decrease, TLC decreases. there is no longer the depnedent effect of gravity on diaphragm and abdominal contents to increase lung volume
- When unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is present, the forced vital capacity (FVC) is usually decreased to values in the range of 70 to 80 percent of predicted, a less pronounced reduction than seen with bilateral disease. The FVC may decrease further by 15 to 25 percent in the supine position.
- > 10% decrease in vital capacity is associated with diaphragm weakness
What are different types of vital capacity measurements?
- FVC
- SVC
- position: supine versus upright
- after lung volume recruitment –>maximum insufflation capacity
Normal cell counts in BAL and threshold for defining abnormal?
Normal:
- 80-90% marcophages
- 5-10% lymphocytes
- 0-1% eosinophils
- <5% neutrophils
Defining abnormal:
- > 3% neutrophils–>neutrophilia
- > 15% lymphoytes
- > 1% eosinophils
Need to copy rest of pulmonary physiology cards
Pending
Define hysteresis and what contributes to it
- lung is less compliant on inspiration than expiration
- contributor:
- changes in surfactant activity. on inflation, surfactant is less concentrated so there is more unopposed surface tension
- stress relaxation, which is a general property of an elastic body
- recruitment of alveoli
- most important: changes in surfactant activity
List the components of the starling equation?
- capillary filtration coefficient
- capillary hydrostatic pressure
- interstitial hydrostatic presssure
- reflection coefficient
- plasma oncotic pressure
- interstitial oncotic pressure
Causes of decreased DLCO?
- anemia
- pulmonary vascular disease
- interstitial disease
- valsalve maneuver
- emphsema
- increased carboxyhemoglobin
Mechanisms for pulmonary edema in someone with cardiac disease?
- Venous obstruction (pulmonary venous hypertension): PVOD, pulmonary vein stenosis, left ventricular dysfunction, TGA, hypoplastic left heart
- Decreased lymphatic: lymphangiectasia, superior venocaval syndrome, single ventricle physiology, tricuspid valve stenosis, failing RV, RV outflow obstruction (I think all the RV stuff is because fluid would back up into SVC)
- Left to right heart shunt: ASD, VSD, PDA, partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection, systemic arteriovenous malformation, aortopulmonary connection including surgical shunt
complications with fontan circulation?
- abrupt increase in systemic venous pressure post operatively, so not uncommon to have chylothorax
- long term: failing fontan:
Failing Fontan: - Increased systemic venous pressure:
- This makes it hard for thoracic duct to empty into venous circulation
- Increased hepatic and extra hepatic lymphatic production
- Overwhelm resoprtive capacity of lymphatics
- Consequence: lymphatic congestion, chylothorax, chylous ascites, lymphangiectasia
Other complications: - Plastic bronchitis—retrograde flow from thoracic duct to parenchyma
- Protein losing enteropathy
Risk of systolic and diastolic dysfunction
- progressive increase in systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance
How much compensation is expected for primary metabolic or respiratory acid/base disorder?
(NEJM 2014 article)
If there is a primary metabolic problem, the extent of PaCO2 compensation should be:
- Acidosis: PaCO2 = 1.5 (HCO3) + 8 (+/- 2)
- Alkalosis: PaCO2 = (HCO3 - 24)(0.7) + 40 (+/- 2)
- Lung adapts faster than kidney so the adaptive is completed in 12-36 hours, so there is no differentiation between acute and chronic
If there is a primary respiratory problem, the extent of HCO3 compensation is:
* Acidosis, acute: HCO3 increases by 1, for every 10 point increase in PaCO2 above 40
* Alkalosis, acute: HCO3 decreases by 2, for every 10 point decrease in PaCO2 below 40
* Acidosis or alkalosis, chronic: HCO3 changes by 4-5, for every 10 point change in PacO2 above/below 40
(Memory trick: 1, 2, 4 for acute acidosis, acute alkalosis, chronic for either acidosis/alkalosis)
What is normal tidal volume in an adult and a child?
Adult 500 mL
Child: about 10 mL/kg (double check), be we usually ventilate at a lower volume of 5-8 mL/kg
What is normal anatomic dead space volume?
150 mL
Describe TAPVR
What is the mechanism of hypoxemia
- No direct connection of pulmonary veins to left atrium
- Pulmonary veins connect with right sided circulation either above or below diaphragm
- RA and RV tend to larger, LA and LV tend to be smaller
- Mixing of oxy with deoxy blood–>shunt
- Blood goes systemic through a conenction like ASD, PFO or PDA
- Presentation depends on if obstruction–>pulmonary edema, pulmonary hypertension
What is the main muscle of inspiration? what happens when one side of this muscle is paralyzed?
- Diaphragm
- When one side is paralyzed, that side will paradoxically move up rather than down.