Problems Involving Respiratory Function Flashcards
Ventilation
Breathing in and out
Perfusion
Blood flow
Compliance
Ease with which the lungs expand
Resistance
Force that has to be overcome to move air in and out of lungs
Elastance
Tendency of lungs to recoil
Work of breathing
Amount of O2 it takes just to breathe
Tidal volume
Amount of air that moves in and out with normal respiration
Residual volume
Amount of air left in alveoli after a forced exhalation
Functional residual capacity
Air left in alveoli after a normal exhalation
(*Allows for continuous gas exchange)
Shunting
Blood flowing past a non-vented alveolus
Anatomical Dead space
Wasted air (keeps airway open)
Alveolar deadspace
Air in alveoli that doesn’t participate in O2 exchange because the alveoli do not have blood flow
What is physiological deadspace?
A combination of anatomical and alveolar deadspace
Factors that need to be in place for adequate respiration
Ventilation
Perfusion
Diffusion
Adequate O2 in air
Examples of disorders that could cause diffusion problems
Pulmonary edema
Chronic bronchitis (stiffens alveolar wall)
Pneumonia
Definition of respiratory failure
Inability of the respiratory system to maintain adequate ventilation and/or oxygenation of the tissues
Respiratory failure ABG levels:
PaO2 <60 mmHg
SaO2 < 90%
PaCO2 > 45 mmHG with acidemia
What are the two types of ARF?
Ventilation failure
Oxygenation failure
Characteristics of ventilation failure (vs. oxygenation failure)
Normal perfusion
*Inadequate ventilation
Shunting
Impaired gas exchange
Hypoxemia
*Hypercapnia
Nursing diagnoses due to oxygenation failure
*Inadequate oxygenation
Ventilation-perfusion abnormality
Diffusion abnormality
Impaired gas exchange
Hypoxemia
What causes Ventilation Failure ARF?
Mechanical abnormalities of the lungs or chest wall
CNS abnormalities
Dysfunctional respiratory muscles
Things that can cause Oxygenation Failure ARF?
Ventilation is normal; perfusion interrupted
Shunting
Diffusion abnormality
Anemia
Decreased cardiac output
What kills the patient no matter what type or cause of ARF?
Hypoxemia