Surgical Respiratory Care

Question 1

What is the most common cause of fever in the first 48 hours post-op?

Answer 1

Atelectasis

Question 2

What is absorption atelectasis?

Answer 2

Elevated inhaled oxygen replaces the nitrogen in the alveoli resulting in collapse of the air sac (atelectasis).
Nitrogen keeps alveoli open by “stenting” them.

Question 3

What is incentive spirometry?

Answer 3

Patient can document tidal volume and will have an incentive to increase it

Question 4

What is oxygen-induced hypoventilation?

Answer 4

Some patients with COPD have low O2 as the main stimulus for the respiratory drive.
If given supplemental O2, they will have decreased respiratory drive and hypoventilation.

Question 5

Why give supplemental O2 to a patient with a pneumothorax?

Answer 5

PTX is almost completely nitrogen, thus increasing the oxygen in the alveoli increases the nitrogen gradient and results in faster absorption of the PTX

Question 6

What is a non-rebreather mask?

Answer 6

100% oxygen with a reservoir bag

Question 7

Why do non-rebreather masks have a reservoir bag?

Answer 7

Inhalation flow will exceed the delivery rate of the tubing and the bag allows for extra oxygen stores

Question 8

What is the maximum oxygen FiO2 delivered by a non-rebreather mask?

Answer 8

80-90%

Question 9

How do you figure out the PaO2 from an O2 sat?

Answer 9

PaO2 of 40, 50, 60 roughly equals 70, 80, 90 in sats

Question 10

What is an oxygen nasal cannula?

Answer 10

Oxygen delivered via tubing with prongs into nares

Question 11

How much do you increase the FiO2 by each liter added to the nasal cannula?

Answer 11

3%

Question 12

What is the max effective flow for a nasal cannula?

Answer 12

6 L