Gas Exchange and Immunity Practice Flashcards

Flashcards covering lecture notes on gas exchange, anemia, specific pulmonary and immune disorders, and acid-base balance.

Gas Exchange

The process by which oxygen is transported to the cells and carbon dioxide is transported from the cells.

Regularly Irregular

A normal respiratory pattern for infants characterized by periods of fast breathing followed by pauses of a few seconds.

Ventilation

The process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide.

Transport

The availability and ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the lungs and throughout the body.

Perfusion

The ability of the blood to transport oxygenated hemoglobin to tissues and return carbon dioxide-containing hemoglobin to the lungs.

Clubbing

A physical change in the nails that occurs as a long-term consequence of lack of oxygenation.

V/Q Scan

A diagnostic test using radioactive particles to evaluate how the lungs are perfusing and functioning, commonly used for pulmonary embolism.

Chest PT

A technique using vibration and percussion with cupped hands to loosen secretions so they can be coughed up.

Hypoproliferative Anemia

A classification of anemia where there is a defect in the production of red blood cells, such as in iron deficiency or aplastic anemia.

Angular Cheilosis

A sign of iron deficiency characterized by redness and cracking at the sides of the mouth.

Ferritin

A protein that stores iron inside cells; it is considered a better marker for iron deficiency than a simple iron level.

TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity)

A lab test that measures the blood's ability to attach to iron and carry it throughout the body.

Pancytopenia

A decrease in all types of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets), seen in aplastic anemia.

Megaloblastic Anemia

Anemia caused by a deficiency in Vitamin B12 or folic acid, characterized by increased mean corpuscular volume ($MCV$).

Intrinsic Factor

A substance necessary for Vitamin B12 absorption; a lack of this results in pernicious anemia.

Glossitis

A smooth, red, sore tongue commonly seen in Vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia).

Vaso-occlusive Crisis

A painful event in sickle cell disease where red blood cells gather in blood vessels, causing occlusion, ischemia, and hypoxia.

Hydroxyurea

A medication used to manage sickle cell disease by reducing sickling and the frequency of crises.

G6PD Deficiency

An inherited gene defect producing an enzyme deficiency that makes red blood cell membranes unstable, leading to hemolysis often precipitated by certain medications.

Innocent Hemolytic Anemia

A condition where erythrocytes are exposed to alloantibodies or autoantibodies, leading to their destruction.

Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

An obstruction of one or more pulmonary arteries, most commonly caused by a blood clot or thrombus.

D-dimer

A laboratory test that looks at clotting factors to help assess for the presence of a pulmonary embolism.

Thrombolytic Therapy

The use of medications to resolve a clot or emboli; it is contraindicated in patients with active bleeding, high blood pressure, or recent surgery.

IVC Filter

An invasive device placed in the body to act as a screen, allowing blood to pass but blocking blood clots from reaching the lungs.

Pleuritic Chest Pain

Sharp chest pain that worsens during breathing, common in patients with pulmonary embolism.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

An autosomal recessive disorder causing generalized dysfunction of the exocrine glands and impaired chloride and water transport.

Meconium Ileus

A blockage of the first stool in the intestine, often the first sign of Cystic Fibrosis in newborns.

Sweat Chloride Test

The gold standard diagnostic test for Cystic Fibrosis, though difficult to use in infants who do not sweat much.

Pulmozyme

A medication given via nebulizer to help decrease the viscosity of mucus in Cystic Fibrosis patients.

ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)

A severe inflammatory process causing damage to the alveoli, progressive pulmonary edema, and severe hypoxemia.

Refractory Hypoxemia

A hallmark of ARDS where hypoxemia continues even after administering increased levels of oxygen.

PEEP (Positive End-Expiratory Pressure)

A ventilator setting used to prevent or reverse alveolar collapse by keeping the alveoli open during expiration.

Prone Positioning

Positioning a patient on their stomach to improve oxygenation, ventilation, and perfusion by utilizing gravity-dependent areas of the lung.

Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Medications that cause paralysis and must be used with sedation and analgesia because the patient remains conscious and can feel pain.

Train of Four Test

A test using a peripheral nerve stimulator to assess the level of neuromuscular blockade by measuring muscle contractions.

VAP Protocol (Bundle)

A set of evidence-based interventions to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, including elevating the head of the bed $30^{\circ}$ and daily sedation vacations.

High Pressure Ventilator Alarm

An alarm triggered by conditions that block the airway, such as excess secretions, a kink in the tubing, or the patient biting the tube.

Low Pressure Ventilator Alarm

An alarm triggered by low exhaled volume, typically caused by a disconnection in the tubing or tube displacement.

Barotrauma

Lung damage caused by excessive positive pressure from a ventilator, which can lead to a spontaneous pneumothorax.

ABCDE Bundle

A management strategy for ventilated patients focused on Awakening and breathing coordination, Delirium monitoring, and Early mobility.

Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome)

A widespread inflammatory response defined by criteria such as temperature $> 100.4^{\circ}F$, heart rate $> 90$, and abnormal white blood cell counts.

qSOFA (Quick SOFA)

A bedside screening tool for sepsis that measures Glasgow Coma Scale, systolic blood pressure ($\le 100\,mmHg$), and respiratory rate.

Sepsis One-Hour Bundle

Initial interventions including measuring lactate, obtaining blood cultures before antibiotics, giving broad-spectrum antibiotics, and fluid resuscitation ($30\,mL/kg$).

Passive Leg Raise

A maneuver to temporarily increase circulatory volume by about $150\text{ to }300\,mL$ to assess if a patient will benefit from more IV fluids.

MODS (Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome)

The altered function of two or more organs in an acutely ill patient such that homeostasis cannot be maintained without intervention.

Stage 3 HIV (AIDS)

The stage of HIV infection characterized by a $CD4$ count below $200\,cells/mm^3$ or the presence of opportunistic infections.

PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)

A medication taken by individuals at high risk for HIV to prevent infection before a potential exposure occurs.

PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)

An antiretroviral regimen that must be started within $72$ hours of a possible HIV exposure and taken for $28$ days.

ART (Antiretroviral Therapy)

The use of a combination of medications to suppress HIV viral replication and preserve immune function.

HIV Wasting Syndrome

Involuntary loss of more than $10\%$ of body weight combined with diarrhea or fever for more than $30$ days.

Kaposi's Sarcoma

An opportunistic cancer caused by a herpes virus that presents as painful purple/brown lesions on the skin or in the mouth.

pH

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of body fluids, with a normal range of $7.35\text{ to }7.45$.

$CO_2$ (Carbon Dioxide)

The respiratory component of an ABG, with a normal range of $35\text{ to }45\,mmHg$.

$HCO_3$ (Bicarbonate)

The metabolic component of an ABG, with a normal range of $22\text{ to }26\,mEq/L$.

Respiratory Acidosis

An acid-base imbalance characterized by a $pH < 7.35$ and a $CO_2 > 45\,mmHg$, caused by hypoventilation.

Kussmaul Respirations

A rapid, deep breathing pattern where the body attempts to blow off $CO_2$ to compensate for metabolic acidosis.

Allen's Test

A physical assessment performed prior to an arterial puncture to ensure adequate blood supply to the hand via the ulnar and radial arteries.

ROME Mnemonic

A memory aid for ABG interpretation where Respiratory is Opposite (pH and $CO_2$) and Metabolic is Equal (pH and $HCO_3$).