Week 6 (parts 1,2 and 3) Flashcards
(59 cards)
Part 1
ABGs
what is an ABG (arterial blood gas)
‘…An Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) is a blood test that measures the acidity, or pH, and the levels of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) from an artery. The test is used to check the function of the patient’s lungs and how well they are able to move oxygen and remove carbon dioxide….’ Nurse.org
what do ABGs measure
pH
PaO₂ (partial pressure of oxygen in the arterial blood)
PaCO₂ (partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood)
HCO₃- (bicarbonate – a base/alkali)
Base excess (measurement of bases/alkali)
what is partial pressure
Air is a mixture of gases; in the body the “concentration” of each gas is described using the term partial pressure
Partial pressures are measured in kilopascals (kPa) or millimetres of mercury (mmHg) (0.133kPa = 1mmHg)
what does PO2/ PCO2 stand for
partial pressure of oxygen / carbon dioxide in the air
what does PaO2 stand for
partial pressure of oxygen dissolved in plasma of arterial blood
what does PvCO2 stand for
partial pressure of carbon dioxide dissolved in plasma of venous blood
what is the partial pressure of respiratory gases (in atmosphere)
PO2 = 21.1kPa (159mmHg)
PCO2 = 0.04kPa (0.3mmHg)
However, in alveolar air:
PO2 = 13.8kPa (104mmHg)
PCO2 = 5.3kPa (40mmHg) (high»_space; low pressure)
what are the normal ABG values
pH 7.35-7.45
PaO₂ 10.7 – 13.3 kPa
PaCO₂ 4.7 – 6.0 kPa
HCO₃- 22-26 mmol/l
Base excess -2 to +2
what is Hypoxia
Hypoxia occurs when oxygen is insufficient at the tissue level to maintain adequate homeostasis
what is Hypoxaemia
Low oxygen in arterial blood/abnormally low concentration of O2 in the blood where PaO2 is less than 80mm Hg or 10.6 kPa
what is Hypercapnia
condition characterised by increased CO2 concentration in the blood/ increase in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) above 45 mm Hg or 6.0 kPa
what is Cyanosis
Abnormal blue (blue-ish-purple) discolouration of the skin, nail beds and mucous membranes caused by a shortage of oxygenation of the blood
who needs an ABG
All critically ill patients
Stable patient who suddenly drops their oxygen saturations
Stable patient who requires an increase on FiO2 to maintain oxygenation and keep within their target range
what are the 2 ways you can interpret ABGs
- Acid – base balance
- Respiratory failure
ways to interpret ABGs (acid balance or respiratory Failure)
Respiratory acidosis = increase in PaCO₂
Respiratory alkalosis = decrease in PaCO₂
Metabolic acidosis = decrease in HCO₃- or BE
Metabolic alkalosis = increase in HCO₃- or BE
Remember PaO₂ does not affect pH
Respiratory Failure:
‘failure of the respiratory system to provide adequate gas exchange for metabolic requirements’
how does RF clinically manifest
Marked dyspnoea, tachypnoea
Purse lip breathing
Use of accessory muscles at rest
Acute confusion
Cyanosis & peripheral oedema
Inability to speak
Unwillingness to lie flat (orthopnoea)
Agitation, restlessness,
↓ consciousness
Asynchronous breathing pattern
Tachycardia
Sweating
how would you medically assess RF
- Arterial blood gases (ABGs) for diagnosis of respiratory failure
- Chest X-ray
- Physical examination
what is Type 1 and Type 2 RF
Type I Respiratory Failure (hypoxaemic) – failure of oxygenation
Type I = failure of oxygenation – usually acute
PaO2 <8kPa but PaCO2 is normal
Type I respiratory failure is the result of only one problem … low PaO2
Type II Respiratory Failure (hypercapnic) – failure of ventilation
Type II = failure of ventilation – may be acute, chronic or acute on chronic
PaO2 <8kPa and PaCO2 >6.0kPa
Type II respiratory failure is the result of two problems … low PaO2 and high PaCO2
how can respiratory failure be classified
Respiratory failure may be
Acute
Chronic
Acute on chronic
E.g acute exacerbation of advance COPD
how can RF progress
Uncorrected Type I RF will develop into Type II RF.
This can occur acutely with infection or injury or over an extended period of time such as with COPD
what are the COPD problems that can lead to RF
Lung hyperinflation and/or fatigue
Shallow ineffective breathing
Reduced ventilation
Incomplete lung emptying
Increased VQ mismatch
Decreased responsiveness to hypoxia
Increased dead space
how are the mechanical properties of the lungs affected
By the disease process, resulting in:
loss of elasticity
hyperinflation
increased sputum production
loss of alveolar gas exchange surface
This causes:
VQ mismatch
inability to overcome increased work of breathing
failure to compensate for increased dead space
what is dead space
‘the volume of ventilated air that does not participate in gas exchange’
Volume of air located in the respiratory tract segments that are responsible for conducting air to the alveoli and respiratory bronchioles but do not take part in the process of gas exchange itself.