Respiratory

Question 1

The compliance of a system is defined as…..

In layman terms, compliance is the ease with which an elastic structure can be stretched.

Answer 1

…the change in volume that occurs per unit change in the pressure of the system.

[“Pulmonary Compliance”, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538324/]

Question 2

Pulmonary compliance (C) is the total compliance of both lungs, measuring the extent to which the lungs will expand (change in volume of lungs) for each unit increase in the trans-pulmonary pressure (when enough time is allowed for the system to reach equilibrium). It is one of the most important concepts underpinning mechanical ventilation used to manage patient respiration in the operating room or intensive care unit environment.

Answer 2

[“Pulmonary Compliance”, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538324/]

Question 3

What is the formula for lung compliance?

Answer 3

Lung Compliance (C) = Change in Lung Volume (V) / Change in Transpulmonary Pressure {Alveolar Pressure (Palv) – Pleural Pressure (Ppl)}.

[“Pulmonary Compliance”, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538324/]

Question 4

Transpulmonary pressure is the pressure gradient between the ______ ________ ________ and _______ _______ ________. It mainly measures the force of lung elasticity at each point of respiration (recoil pressure).

Answer 4

inside alveolar pressure and outside pleural pressure

[“Pulmonary Compliance”, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538324/]

Question 5

Alveolar pressure is the air pressure inside the alveoli. Pleural pressure is the pressure of the fluid present inside the space between visceral pleura (layer adhered to lungs) and parietal pleura (chest wall lining layer).

Answer 5

[“Pulmonary Compliance”, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538324/]

Question 6

Normally the total compliance of both lungs in an adult is about ___ ____.

Answer 6

200 ml / cm H2O

[“Pulmonary Compliance”, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538324/]