Airway/Breathing

35-45 mm Hg

Normal end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2)

The amount of CO2 in exhaled air

What does ETCO2 measure?

<35 mm Hg

Hypocarbia ETCO2

>45 mm Hg

Hypercarbia ETCO2

Fatigue, labored, shallow breathing and rapid, weak pulse

Signs of imminent respiratory failure.

The amount of air moving in and out of the alveoli each minute.

Define minute alveolar ventilation.

(Tidal vol - dead space vol) x resp rate

How do you calculate for minute alveolar ventilation?

RR 16; tidal vol, 300 mL

(300 - 150) x 16 = 2, 400 mL (2.4 L)

Assuming a dead space volume of 150 mL, which of the following would yield the lowest minute alveolar ventilation?

• RR 10; tidal vol, 500 mL

• RR 16; tidal vol, 300 mL

• RR 12: tidal vol, 400 mL

• RR 14: tidal vol, 350 mL

stridor

Identify the type of adventitious breathing: high-pitched sound during inhalation, indicates narrowing or swelling near the larynx

albuterol (Ventolin), metaproterenol (Alupent), levalbuterol (Xopenex)

List 3 medications that are beta-2 agonist bronchodilators.