Respiratory Failure Flashcards
VA
the amount of air entering or exiting the alveoli and participating in gas exchange each minute
A-a gradient
the difference between PAO2 and PaO2
and hence the difference between hypoxia and hypoxaemia
V/Q
ventilation divided by perfusion
Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction
constriction of pulmonary arteries in the presence of alveolar hypoxia to re-direct blood flow from areas that are poorly ventilated to areas that are well ventilated and more oxygen rich; no point to direct blood flow to areas of poor ventilation
ABG Measurement
a sample of blood is taken from an artery, usually the radial artery as that is the most accessible artery
the sample of blood is analysed in a few minutes in an ABG Analyser
acute
sudden deterioration
chronic
gradual and usually permanent change (eg:COPD)
acute on chronic
worsening of existing abnormalities eg: infective exacerbation of COPD
Generally lung failure results in
gas exchnage failure so hpoxaemia
Generally pump failures results in
ventilatory failure so hypercapnoea
Type 1 respiratory failure (hypoxaemic)
due to disease of the lungs, which prevents adequate oxygenation of the blood
Lungs still able to excrete CO2
This results in decrease O2 but normal or lower CO2 levels
State the five mechanisms of hypoxaemia.
Hypoventilation
Low inspired oxygen FIO2
Diffusion impairment
Shunt
Ventilation/perfusion (VQ) mismatch
Hypoventilation causes only Type 1 respiratory failure.
True or False?
False
Type 1 & Type 2
Hypoventilation is caused by
inadequate alveolar ventilation resulting in low alveolar pO2 and high pCO2
Hypoventilation occurs when
respiratory drive is impaired
When is respiratory drive impaired? (6)
- head injury
- drugs that suppress the respiratory center (morphine)
- respiratory muscle weakness
- COPD
- neuromuscular disease
- musculoskeletal disease
At higher altitudes the partial pressure of inspired oxygen increases or decreases?
Decreases
Low inspired oxygen causing type 1 RF slide
Low inspired oxygen FIO2 results in low alveolar PO2
How do we manage Type 1 Rf caused by hypoventilation or low inspired oxygen?
Supplemental oxygen
Can be given through nasal cannula, Venturi mask, re-breathe mask, CPAP, NIV, intubation and ventilation
Diffusion impairment causing Type 1 RF
disease or damage to the basement membrane causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen that diffuses across the interstitium and this results in hypoxaemia;
normal PAO2 but reduced PaO2
Diffusing capacity is also called
Transfer Factor (TLCO/DLCO) and can be measured by using a small amount of carbon monoxide
What gradient is used to determine if there is a problem with diffusion in the lungs?
Alveolar-arterial gradient
Alveolar - arterial gradient equation
4 factors affecting the diffusion of gases
- surface area of the basement membrane (emphysema)
- thickness of the basement membrane (pulmonary fibrosis)
- diffusion coefficient of the gas
- partial pressure and gradient of the gas
Management of type 1 respiratory failure due to diffusion impairment
- treat the underlying condition if possible
- supplemental oxygen
Type 1 respiratory failure caused by shunts
- pulmonary shunt
- anatomical shunt resulting in the mixing or venous and arterial blood
- cardiac shunt can be congenital (cyanotix heart diseaSE) and acquired
Pulmonary shunts
Passage of deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the left side without participating in gas exchange in the pulmonary capillaries
Is a physiological shunt:
- consolidation eg pneumonia (poorly ventilated areas bypassed due to the principle of pulmonary vasoconstriction)
- arteriovenous malformation AVM