RESP- Intro to respiratory function and failure

Question 1

describe the difference between type 1 and type 2 respiratory failure

Answer 1

type 1- gas exchange problem - decrease in oxygenation - decreased PaO2- normal PaCO2

clinical examples - pneumonia, ARDS, PE

type 2- ventilation problem - decrease in ventilation- decrease in PaO2 - increase in PaCO2

clinical examples - asthma, COPD, CF

Question 2

outline a clinical example of type 2 RF

Answer 2

asthma - rate of ventilation is impaired

more CO2 produced by the body - O2 inspiration is not sufficient for metabolic demand

CO2 accumulates and Oxygen falls - first in the alveoli and then in the blood

Question 3

outline a clinical example of type 1 RF

Answer 3

atelectasis

complete collapse of 1 lung but a healthy other one

after collapse - body detects that O2 levels have gone down and CO2 levels have gone up -

this causes increased ventilation in the functional lung - effective at getting CO2 out but not O2 in

O2 depends on haemoglobin but because of the collapsed lung, half the circulation is coming back unoxygenated

CO2 doesn’t rely on haemoglobin

Question 4

outline pathologies in respiratory failure

Answer 4

broad- dysfunction in any stage of the process by which oxygen moves from the atmosphere into the blood

insufficient ventilation - obstruction of airways

insufficient gas exchange - pulmonary fibrosis

insufficient oxygen carrying ability

insufficient oxygen in the atmosphere