Week 2

Question 1

What are the common signs and symptoms associated with respiratory presentations?

Answer 1

dyspnea (difficulty breathing), tachypnea (rapid breathing), hypopnea (shallow breathing), hyperpnea (deep breathing), and apnea (absence of breathing), wheeze, stridor

Question 2

What is the VQ ratio?

Answer 2

The relationship between
ventilation and perfusion- V/Q
ratio Normal is around 0.8

Question 3

What is the normal range for pH in the blood?

Answer 3

PH 7.36-7.44 Elliott et al (2007, p 139)

Question 4

What is the normal range for PaO2 in the blood?

Answer 4

PaO2 80-100mmHg Elliott et al (2007, p 139)

Question 5

What is the normal range for PaCO2 in the blood?

Answer 5

PaCO2 35-45 mmHg Elliott et al (2007, p 139

Question 6

What is the normal range for HCO3 in the blood?

Answer 6

HCO3 22-32mEq/l Elliott et al (2007, p 139

Question 7

What is the normal range for Base excess (BE) in the blood?

Answer 7

BE +- 3Eq/l Elliott et al (2007, p 139

Question 8

What is the normal O2 Saturation of the blood in a non COPD patient?

Answer 8

O2 Saturation >94%

Question 9

What can cause Respiratory Acidosis?

Answer 9

1. Alveolar hypoventilation
2. Alveolar hyperventilation
3. Mechanical ventilation
4. Inadequate perfusion

Question 10

What are some Respiratory compensatory mechanisms?

Answer 10

Initial response increased respiratory rate and depth of breathing
• Increase in minute ventilation
• Increased heart rate
• Possible vasoconstriction
• Peripheral chemoreceptors detect hypoxia
and initiate compensatory mechanisms


Question 11

What are the Clinical Presentations for Respiratory Failure Type I?

Answer 11

Type I
◦ Hypoxaemic
◦ Low PaO2
◦ Normal or low PaCO2
◦ Mismatch between ventilation and Perfusion

Question 12

What are the Clinical Presentations for Respiratory Failure Type II ?

Answer 12

Type II
◦ Hypercapnoeic/hypoxaemic
◦ High PaCO2 and Low PaO2
◦ Alveolar hypoventilation – inadequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

Question 13

What is Non Invasive Ventilation(NIV)?

Answer 13

• •
Non Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation delivers positive pressure breaths to a spontaneously breathing patient. Delivered by a mask with an airtight seal Reduces the occurrence of patients being intubated

Question 14

What is CPAP?

Answer 14

CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) Support for spontaneously breathing patients and ventilated patients
Non invasively via a mask
Addition to mechanical ventilation
The raised positive pressure assists in reducing the work of breathing on inspiration
Increases gas exchange and reduces hypoxia

Question 15

What type of patients would you use CPAP on?

Answer 15

Commonly used in patients with
-pulmonary oedema
COPD
Asthma

Question 16

What is BiPAP?

Answer 16

BiPAP (Bilevel positive airway pressure) Involves-
 IPAP (Inspiratory positive airway pressure)
◦ A higher pressure is delivered on inspiration
 EPAP(Expiratorypositiveairwaypressure) ◦ Lower pressure (but still positive) on expiration

Question 17

What type of patients would you use BiPAP on?

Answer 17

Commonly used in-
• high dependency patients
• Neurological disorders (Guillain Barre syndrome)
• OSA (Obstructive sleep apneoa)
• COPD
• Asthma
• Post extubation weaning issues