Complete Solutions
Gas Exchange ✅Gas exchange is the process by which oxygen is transported to cells
and carbon dioxide is transported from cells.
Hypoxia / Hypoxemia / Anoxia ✅Hypoxia: insufficient levels of oxygen reaching the
tissues.
Hypoxemia: reduced oxygenation of arterial blood.
Anoxia: total lack of oxygen in body tissues.
Ischemia ✅insufficient flow of oxygenated blood to tissues that may result in
hypoxemia and subsequent cell injury or death.
List some variations that may cause gas exchange impairment. ✅Impaired ventilation
(unavailability of O2 with high altitudes, thoracic muscle weakness, narrowed airways
from obstruction or bronchoconstriction, and poor gas diffusion in the alveoli due to
pulmonary edema).
Impaired transport (insufficient number or quality of RBCs or HGB to carry oxygen, like
with anemia, blood loss, and destruction of RBCs).
Impaired perfusion (caused by decreased cardiac output, thrombi, emboli,
vasoconstriction, vessel narrowing, or blood loss).
Notice risk factors for impaired gas exchange. ✅- Age
- Air pollution
- Allergies
- Smoking
- Chronic medical conditions such as COPD, CF, and HF
- Immunosuppression
- Reduced state of cognition
- Brain injury
- Prolonged immobility
Tobacco use is single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United
States and is the most significant risk factor for impaired gas exchange. (T/F) ✅True
What symptoms do individuals experiencing gas exchange impairment most commonly
report in their history? ✅Cough, Shortness of breath, and Chest pain with breathing.
Recognize when an individual has compromised gas exchange. ✅- Vital Signs:
increase in HR and RR, decrease in O2 sat., and increase in temperature (infection).
- Tripod position
, - Pursed lip breathing
- Anxiety
- Pallor/Cyanosis
- Clubbing of nails
- Barrel chest
- Wheezing or stridor (narrowing).
What is a Mantoux skin test? ✅TB skin test: it measures an individual's exposure to
TB. It is commonly given to medical workers, prisons, LTC facilities, and people who
come from a country where TB is common.
When is a nasal cannula used? ✅when a lower concentration of oxygen is warranted;
used to deliver 24%-44% oxygen at flow rates of 1 L/min-6 L/min
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ✅A preventable, treatable, but often
progressive disease characterized by persistent airflow limitation. COPD is associated
with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and lungs, primarily
caused by cigarette smoking and other noxious particles or gases. Exacerbations and
other coexisting illnesses contribute to the severity of the disease.
Clinical manifestations of COPD ✅-Barrel Chest
-Cough with Mucus (bronchitis)
-Dyspnea (emphysema)
-Fatigue
-Wheezing
-Frequent respiratory infections
-Commonly diagnosed via spirometry (FEV1 <70%)
-Weight loss
-Clubbing
-Polycythemia
What is the most significant modifiable risk factor for the development of impaired gas
exchange?
A. tobacco use
B. drug overdose
C. age
D prolonged immobility ✅A.
Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death and disease and is the most
important risk factor in the development of impaired gas exchange. Age is not a
modifiable risk factor. Drug overdose and immobility both contribute to impaired gas
exchange but are not as significant as tobacco use.
When evaluating the concept of gas exchange, how should the nurse best describe the
movement of oxygen and carbon dioxide?
A. Oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged across the capillary membrane to provide
oxygen to hemoglobin.