Case Study: Cari's Story

The lungs did not reinflate when the valve was closed. In addition to closing off the opening to the atmosphere, the excess air in the intrapleural space must be removed to decrease intrapleural pressure below atmospheric pressure before the lungs will reinflate.

A low partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) suggests that a person is not getting enough oxygen; Metabolic acidosis->Kidney failure, shock, diabetic ketoacidosis

B. The muscles that help move air in and out of the lungs are severely compromised.

6. Your patient has a respiratory disease that has literally paralyzed the cilia. Explain why this patient would be at an increased risk for a respiratory infection. What type of treatment might you want to give to this person? Please be specific.

Both rapid, shallow breathing patterns and hypoventilation effect gas exchange. Arterial blood gases will be monitored and changes discussed with provider. Alteration in PaCO2 and PaO2 levels are signs of respiratory failure. Patient’s body position will be properly aligned for optimum respiratory excursion, this promotes lung expansion and improved air exchange. Patient will be suctioned as needed to clear secretions and maintain patent airways. The expected outcome is that the patient’s airway and gas exchange will be maintained as evidence by normal arterial blood gases (Herdman,

The higher her respiratory rate the more liters of oxygen needed to supply for the loss in her lungs. To get the minute ventilation you take the breaths per min times 500mL/breath and that gets your liters of oxygen per min.

• Pulse Oximetry - Tests the percentage of oxygen in the blood. 95% or more is a normal level,

Because Cari is a smoker this has caused the cilia in her respiratory passages to become paralyzed and secrete excess amounts of mucus that need to be expelled, leading to the smoker’s cough.

2. Can you draw a diagram that shows how the respiratory system, under the control of the central

The normal blood pH is between 7.35 and 7.45. Allen’s blood was acidotic due to a decrease in lung expansion and an alteration in the perfusion to his spinal cord. He also has an alteration in spinal innervation to the respiratory muscles including the phrenic nerve that controls the diaphragm. This would further cause Allen to not be able to adequately take in enough oxygen and blow off enough CO2 to adequately have gas exchange, within the alveoli. Respiratory failure.

I think Sally is experiencing metabolic acidosis, and the respiratory response is hyperventilation which increases loss of CO2 hence the reason she is breathing deeply and gasping. Also, if compensation is complete, pH will be within normal range but HCO3- will be low.

Also he’s oxygen diffusion rate has increased due to the more oxygen which is absorbed by the alveoli and then circulated around the body.

Consist of the nasal passage, pharynx, esophagus, larynx, trachea, lungs, diaphragm, bronchi, and pulmonary artery and vein.

Did the pH level of the blood change at all during this run? If so, how? Yes it did, when the breathing

Respiratory Acidosis occurs when the lungs cannot remove all the carbon dioxide that the body makes. In turn this makes fluid in the body become too acidic. The distinctive feature of respiratory acidosis is an abnormally high PCO2, meaning above 45 mmHg. Improper exhalation of oxygen can cause the blood pH to drop.” Any condition that decreases the movement of CO2 from the blood to the alveoli of the lungs to the atmosphere causes a buildup of CO2, H2CO3, and H+ (Tortora, 2014, p.1036)”. Symptoms of this condition may include: confusion, lethargy, fatigue, sleepiness, and shortness of breath. Probable causes are: obesity, disease of the chest, diseases of the lungs and airways, and drugs that suppress breathing (MedlinePLus, 2012). A health care provider will perform a physical exam to see if this is what is happening. He may do so by: arterial blood gas which measures oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the blood, basic metabolic panel, a chest x-ray, or possibly a pulmonary function test (MedlinePLus, 2012). Treatment is mainly aimed at the underlying cause not at condition itself. It is treated