NCM 118 Medical-Surgical Nursing Midterms

Critical Care: The Adult Client with Respiratory Disorder

• Focus on understanding ventilation and perfusion balance in respiratory disorders.
• Disruptions in the balance lead to conditions like low ventilation-perfusion ratios, commonly seen in patients with respiratory issues.

Chest and Lower Respiratory Tract Disorders

• Pneumonia: Inflammation caused by mucus accumulation in the lungs.
• Aspiration Pneumonia: Result from inhaling foreign materials into the lungs, leading to infection.
• Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Infection that occurs in patients on mechanical ventilation, often due to ventilator management practices.
• Pleural Effusion: Excess fluid buildup between the layers of tissue lining the lungs and chest cavity, affecting breathing.
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Includes chronic bronchitis (mucus overproduction) and emphysema (destruction of alveolar walls).
• Asthma: Airway inflammation and constriction, leading to breathing difficulties.
• Pulmonary Edema: Fluid accumulation in the lungs, often due to heart issues.
• Pulmonary Embolism: Blockage in a pulmonary artery, can result in infarction (tissue death due to lack of blood supply).
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): Severe inflammatory response leading to respiratory failure.
• Respiratory Failure: Occurs when the respiratory system fails to oxygenate blood or remove carbon dioxide effectively.

Mechanics of Ventilation

• Alveolar Surface Tension: Must be managed to prevent alveolar collapse.
• Lung Compliance: Refers to the lungs' ability to stretch and expand; affected by elastic fibers and surface tension.
• Pressure Gradient: Negative pressure within the lungs versus positive pressure outside creates a vacuum effect, essential for effective ventilation.
• Delivery of Oxygen: Must consider the pressure within the delivery system to ensure optimal oxygenation of blood.

Obstruction and Ventilation-Perfusion Mismatch

• Atelectasis: Collapse of alveoli, hindering gas exchange.
• Mucus Plug: An obstruction in the airways caused by accumulated mucus, blocking airflow.
• High Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio (Dead Space): Occurs when ventilation exceeds perfusion, leading to inadequate gas exchange.
• Pulmonary Infarction: Tissue damage in the lungs due to lack of blood flow, often linked to pulmonary embolism.
• Cardiogenic Shock: Can result from arrhythmias leading to decreased blood flow to vital organs, impacting respiratory function.

Prepare for your NCM 118 midterms in Medical-Surgical Nursing with this quiz. It covers key topics, including the fall of the abnormal side of ventilation and other crucial concepts in nursing care. Test your understanding and reinforce your learning in this essential nursing course.