NURS 3812 Exam 2 (Module 10): Gas Exchange
Questions and Correct Answers
What is ventilation?
flow of air inside or outside of the alveoli; breathing to bring O2 into the alveoli and removing
CO2
What is perfusion regarding oxygenation?
flow of blood into the alveolar capillaries to exchange deoxygenated blood for oxygenated blood,
then pumped to heart and rest of the body (via RBCs/hemoglobin)
What are two different alterations in ventilation?
hyperventilation and hypoventilation
What is hyperventilation?
fast breathing, blow off CO2
What causes hyperventilation?
- anxiety attack
- acute pain
- infections, eg. pneumonia
- lung disease --> initial part of an asthma episode
- brain injury
What can hyperventilation lead to?
alkalosis --> basic pH --> loss of CO2
,How can hyperventilation be managed?
- slowed, pursed lipped breathing
- medication (bronchodilator)
- airway management (intubation)
What is hypoventilation?
slow, shallow breathing, buildup of CO2 and decrease O2
What causes hypoventilation?
- neuromuscular disorders (muscular dystrophy)
- medications (narcotics/opioids)
- COPD, severe pneumonia, severe acute asthma episode (resp. fatigue/failure)
What can hypoventilation lead to?
acidosis --> acidic pH --> increased CO2
How can hypoventilation be managed?
- supplemental O2
- reverse opioid effects
- CPAP (OSA) or BiPAP
When a PT is experiencing acute respiratory distress what two big questions should you
ask yourself?
- how severe is it?
- what might be causing it?
, What is hypoxia?
lack of O2 at the cellular level leading to decreased O2 in tissues
What causes hypoxia?
decreased RBCs/hgb (anemia/blood), decreased diffusion (COPD, pneumonia), poor tissue
perfusion (low BP, MI, smoking) and decreased ventilation (low RR, eg. opioids)
What are the early signs of hypoxia?
- confusion, irritability, and restlessness
- dyspnea
- tachypnea (>20)
- tachycardia
- elevated BP
- pale skin
- intercostal retractions
- O2 < 90%
What are the signs of late hypoxia?
- decreased LOC (level of consciousness): stupor
- cyanosis
- bradypnea (<12)
- bradycardia
- hypotension
- cardiac dysrhythmias
Questions and Correct Answers
What is ventilation?
flow of air inside or outside of the alveoli; breathing to bring O2 into the alveoli and removing
CO2
What is perfusion regarding oxygenation?
flow of blood into the alveolar capillaries to exchange deoxygenated blood for oxygenated blood,
then pumped to heart and rest of the body (via RBCs/hemoglobin)
What are two different alterations in ventilation?
hyperventilation and hypoventilation
What is hyperventilation?
fast breathing, blow off CO2
What causes hyperventilation?
- anxiety attack
- acute pain
- infections, eg. pneumonia
- lung disease --> initial part of an asthma episode
- brain injury
What can hyperventilation lead to?
alkalosis --> basic pH --> loss of CO2
,How can hyperventilation be managed?
- slowed, pursed lipped breathing
- medication (bronchodilator)
- airway management (intubation)
What is hypoventilation?
slow, shallow breathing, buildup of CO2 and decrease O2
What causes hypoventilation?
- neuromuscular disorders (muscular dystrophy)
- medications (narcotics/opioids)
- COPD, severe pneumonia, severe acute asthma episode (resp. fatigue/failure)
What can hypoventilation lead to?
acidosis --> acidic pH --> increased CO2
How can hypoventilation be managed?
- supplemental O2
- reverse opioid effects
- CPAP (OSA) or BiPAP
When a PT is experiencing acute respiratory distress what two big questions should you
ask yourself?
- how severe is it?
- what might be causing it?
, What is hypoxia?
lack of O2 at the cellular level leading to decreased O2 in tissues
What causes hypoxia?
decreased RBCs/hgb (anemia/blood), decreased diffusion (COPD, pneumonia), poor tissue
perfusion (low BP, MI, smoking) and decreased ventilation (low RR, eg. opioids)
What are the early signs of hypoxia?
- confusion, irritability, and restlessness
- dyspnea
- tachypnea (>20)
- tachycardia
- elevated BP
- pale skin
- intercostal retractions
- O2 < 90%
What are the signs of late hypoxia?
- decreased LOC (level of consciousness): stupor
- cyanosis
- bradypnea (<12)
- bradycardia
- hypotension
- cardiac dysrhythmias
