Gas Exchange & Terms& Path & Problems
This term means the movement of air in and out of the lungs.
What is ventilation?
Two key objective measures you should obtain when a patient reports shortness of breath.
What are respiratory rate and oxygen saturation (SpO₂)?
A respiratory infection that often presents with fever, cough, and crackles; imaging may show an infiltrate.
What is pneumonia?
Fluid volume deficit with decreased circulating volume is called this.
What is hypovolemia?
Normal ABG pH range is approximately this.
What is 7.35–7.45?
Cardiac output equals heart rate multiplied by this.
What is stroke volume?
A common positioning intervention to reduce work of breathing for a dyspneic patient.
What is High Fowler’s/tripod positioning?
This obstructive disease is characterized by chronic productive cough and airway inflammation (a type of COPD).
What is chronic bronchitis?
Fluid shifting out of the vascular space into tissues (often after trauma/burns) is called this.
What is third spacing?
A likely cause of respiratory acidosis is this general problem.
What is hypoventilation?
This term describes blood flow through pulmonary capillaries available for gas exchange.
What is perfusion?
This device encourages deep breathing to prevent atelectasis after surgery.
What is an incentive spirometer?
A sudden blockage of a pulmonary artery by a clot is called this.
What is a pulmonary embolism (PE)?
This term describes excess fluid volume; you may see edema and crackles.
What is hypervolemia?
A high pH with a decreased PaCO₂ points to this acid–base problem.
What is respiratory alkalosis?
Low oxygen level in arterial blood is called this
What is hypoxemia?
Teaching: with this tool, the patient records their best of three blows to monitor asthma control at home.
What is a peak flow meter?
Compare tracheostomy vs endotracheal intubation: which is typically used for longer-term airway support?
What is a tracheostomy?
Electrolyte imbalance: too little of this electrolyte can lead to muscle weakness and cardiac irritability.
What is potassium/hypokalemia?
A low pH with a low HCO₃⁻ points to this acid–base problem.
What is metabolic acidosis?
An increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood is called this.
What is hypercapnia?
A patient is scheduled for thoracentesis. What is being removed?
What is pleural fluid?
Compare: lung abscess vs empyema—empyema is pus located where?
What is the pleural space?
Electrolyte imbalance: too much of this electrolyte can cause decreased neuromuscular excitability (e.g., weakness).
What is calcium/hypercalcemia?
A high pH with a high HCO₃⁻ points to this acid–base problem.
What is metabolic alkalosis?