Weeks 7 & 8: Acute Respiratory Failure Flashcards
definition of acute respiratory failure
inadequate oxygenation OR ventilation which threatens function of vital organs
diagnostic criteria for acute respiratory failure
- hypoxemia: PaO2 < 60 mm Hg
and/or
- hypercapnia: PaCO2 > 50 mm Hg
what are the two types of acute respiratory failure
Type I ARF (hypoxic)
Type II ARF (hypoxic hypercarbic)
Description of Type I ARF (hypoxic)
- PaO2 < 60 mm Hg
- PA-PaO2 (A/a gradient) > 25 mm Hg
- increased shunt (PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 300)
- PaCO2 normal or < 50 mm Hg
Causes of Type I ARF (hypoxic)?
- V/Q mismatch
- alveolar hypoventilation
- diffusion defect
- R to L shunt
- low ambient oxygen
Description of Type II ARF (hypoxic hypercarbic).
- PaO2 < 60 mm Hg
- PaCO2 > 50 mm Hg
- acidosis
Causes of Type II ARF (hypoxic hypercarbic)
- alveolar hypoventilation
- increased airway resistance
- loss of lung surface area
- chest deformity
what is an intrapulmonary shunt
Percent of total veous blood that BYPASSES gas exchange (alveoli) and returns unoxygenated to systemic arterial system
what is a normal value for intrapulmonary shunt?
Normal 3-5% up to max of 10%
increased with each decade of life
Visual of intrapulmonary shunt

what do you need for a true shunt calculation?
mixed venous blood (from a Swan)
how do you estimate intrapulmonary shunt?
- A-a gradient: least accurate with increasing FiO2, but most common
- a/A ratio (Arterial to alveolar ratio): most accurate, allows for changes in PaCO2
- PaO2/FiO2 ratio: most accurate, can be easiest (if PaCO2 is stable)
- Respiratory index: not common
what do you need to do in order to be able to estimate shunt using a/A ratio?
must calculate Alveolar gas using standard equation
PAO2=[FiO2(Patm - PH2O)-(PaCO2/RQ)]
then divided PaO2/PAO2
what can you use to look at the diffusion defect?
A-a gradient = PAO2 - PaO2
what is a normal arterial - alveolar ratio
Normal > 0.8-0.9
is higher or lower a/A ratio make the shunt worse?
the lower the a/A ratio the worse the shunt
where do you obtain the PaCO2 & PaO2 values needed to calculate the diffusion defect/estimate the shunt?
ABG
what is normal PaO2/FiO2 ratio
550
what is the assumption for estimating shunt using PaO2 / FiO2 ratio?
that the patient is on 100% oxygen
what is the PaO2/FiO2 value for acute lung injury
<300
what is the PaO2 / FiO2 ratio value for ARDS
< 200
does a lower ratio for PaO2 / FiO2 ratio mean a larger or smaller shunt?
the lower the PaO2 / FiO2 ratio the larger the shunt
what is approximate shunt for PaO2 / FiO2 ratio for: 500, 300, 200?
500 - 5% shunt
300 - 15% shunt
200 - 20% shunt
clinical symptoms of ARF
dyspnea
orthopnea
anxiety
chest pain/stiffness