Advanced Cardiopulmonary Physiology Essay

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Advanced Cardiopulmonary Physiology

1. Blood enters the heart through the Superior Vena Cava which is the large vein at the top of the heart, and the Inferior Vena Cava, which is the large vein at the bottom of the heart. Blood flows into the right atrium, passes through the tricuspid valve, and makes its way into the right ventricle. It then moves through the pulmonic valve, into the pulmonary artery to the lungs.” After picking up oxygen in the lungs, the blood moves out of the lungs into the pulmonary vein, into the left atrium, through the mitral valve, and into the left ventricle that pushes blood to the body through the aortic valve. Once blood leaves the heart it is in the aorta where it flows to various parts of the body” (Whitlock, …show more content…
What are the normal values for PaO 2 ? Normal arterial PaO2 values are 80-100mmHg and venous normal Pao2 values are 30-40mmHg. What are the values for determining the severity of hypoxemia? Severe hypoxemia is a PaO2 less than 40mmHg.
3. The PAO2-PaO2 is an equation for calculating the Alveolar-arterial (A-a) gradient. It is used to determine the source of hypoxemia. “High gradients result from impaired diffusion or, more commonly, by ventilation-perfusion inequality of the "shunting" variety. A normal A-a gradient is less than 10 torr”(cornell.edu). The A-a gradient is calculated by PAO2 = ( FiO2 * (760 - 47)) - (PaCO2 / …show more content…
Which measurements are used to evaluate the presence of each of the four types of hypoxia’s below? Provide the normal values for each of the measurements used to evaluate their presence.
a. Hypoxic- In this form of hypoxia, if the PaO2 is below normal because either the alveolar PO2 is reduced, or the blood is unable to equilibrate fully with the alveolar air. There is not enough oxygen in the environment. Normal PaO2 level is 80-100mmHg.
b. Anemic- In this form of hypoxia, the lungs are in perfect working condition, but the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood has been reduced. Carbon Monoxide produces anemic hypoxia - because it binds to the Hb with such high affinity, preventing oxygen from binding, it reduces the oxygen carrying-capacity of the blood. The tissues do not get sufficient oxygen to maintain their metabolic needs because the blood is not carrying it.” To recognize Anemic Hypoxia the hemoglobin (Hb) is evaluated. Normal Hb levels are 12-15.5gm/dl for women, and 13-17.5 for men”(Karius, D).
c. Stagnant- is a type of hypoxia that results from poor peripheral circulation. This hypoxia can form from congested heart failure. The heart cannot pump blood to the
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