CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS AND
ASSESSMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FULL SOLUTION
●● What are the requirements for normal gas exchange?
Answer: Open airways, expansion of the lungs, adequate surface area for
gas diffusion, and adequate blood flow through pulmonary capillary bed.
●● What is hypoxemia?
Answer: Reduction in arterial blood O₂ levels; defined as PaO₂ < 60
mmHg.
●● What is the normal range for PaO₂?
Answer: 80-100 mmHg.
●● What is hypercapnia?
Answer: Increase in arterial blood CO₂ levels; defined as PaCO₂ > 45
mmHg.
●● What are the causes of hypoxemia?
,Answer: Hypoventilation, impaired diffusion of gases, inadequate
circulation of blood through pulmonary capillaries, and mismatching of
ventilation and perfusion.
●● What are the manifestations of hypoxemia?
Answer: Increased respiratory effort, cyanosis, and impaired sensory and
neurologic functions.
●● What compensatory mechanism occurs in chronic hypoxemia?
Answer: Increase in red blood cell production (polycythemia) and
pulmonary vasoconstriction.
●● What is the definition of atelectasis?
Answer: Incomplete expansion of a lung or a portion of a lung.
●● What are the types of pneumothorax?
Answer: Spontaneous, primary, secondary, and traumatic.
●● What is the definition of pleural effusion?
Answer: Abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural cavity.
●● What are the types of pleural effusion?
, Answer: Transudative, exudative, empyema, chylothorax, and
hemothorax.
●● What is the classic triad of symptoms for pulmonary embolism?
Answer: Shortness of breath, cough with bloody sputum, and pleuritic
chest pain.
●● What is the definition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)?
Answer: Chronic lung diseases characterized by progressive obstruction
of pulmonary airflow.
●● What are the two main types of COPD?
Answer: Chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
●● What is the mnemonic for chronic bronchitis?
Answer: 'Blue Bloater' - characterized by chronic productive cough and
cyanosis.
●● What is the mnemonic for emphysema?
Answer: 'Pink Puffer' - characterized by hyperinflation of the lungs and
increased respiratory effort.
●● What is cystic fibrosis?
ASSESSMENT OF RESPIRATORY DISEASE
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FULL SOLUTION
●● What are the requirements for normal gas exchange?
Answer: Open airways, expansion of the lungs, adequate surface area for
gas diffusion, and adequate blood flow through pulmonary capillary bed.
●● What is hypoxemia?
Answer: Reduction in arterial blood O₂ levels; defined as PaO₂ < 60
mmHg.
●● What is the normal range for PaO₂?
Answer: 80-100 mmHg.
●● What is hypercapnia?
Answer: Increase in arterial blood CO₂ levels; defined as PaCO₂ > 45
mmHg.
●● What are the causes of hypoxemia?
,Answer: Hypoventilation, impaired diffusion of gases, inadequate
circulation of blood through pulmonary capillaries, and mismatching of
ventilation and perfusion.
●● What are the manifestations of hypoxemia?
Answer: Increased respiratory effort, cyanosis, and impaired sensory and
neurologic functions.
●● What compensatory mechanism occurs in chronic hypoxemia?
Answer: Increase in red blood cell production (polycythemia) and
pulmonary vasoconstriction.
●● What is the definition of atelectasis?
Answer: Incomplete expansion of a lung or a portion of a lung.
●● What are the types of pneumothorax?
Answer: Spontaneous, primary, secondary, and traumatic.
●● What is the definition of pleural effusion?
Answer: Abnormal collection of fluid in the pleural cavity.
●● What are the types of pleural effusion?
, Answer: Transudative, exudative, empyema, chylothorax, and
hemothorax.
●● What is the classic triad of symptoms for pulmonary embolism?
Answer: Shortness of breath, cough with bloody sputum, and pleuritic
chest pain.
●● What is the definition of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)?
Answer: Chronic lung diseases characterized by progressive obstruction
of pulmonary airflow.
●● What are the two main types of COPD?
Answer: Chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
●● What is the mnemonic for chronic bronchitis?
Answer: 'Blue Bloater' - characterized by chronic productive cough and
cyanosis.
●● What is the mnemonic for emphysema?
Answer: 'Pink Puffer' - characterized by hyperinflation of the lungs and
increased respiratory effort.
●● What is cystic fibrosis?
