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Case Study Ards Essay example

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Case Study Three
1. What is the definition of ARDS? Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. More fluid in your lungs means less oxygen can reach your bloodstream. This deprives your organs of the oxygen they need to function.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is also known as shock lung, wet lung, post perfusion lung and a variety of other names related to specific causes.

What are the associated clinical indicators?

The first signs and symptoms of ARDS are feeling like you can't get enough air into your lungs, rapid breathing, and a low blood oxygen level. Other signs and symptoms depend on the cause of the ARDS. They may occur …show more content…

Pulmonary capillary blood flow is lowest in the apices where alveolar pressure is greater than capillary pressure. So ventilation is greater than perfusion. Blood flow is greatest at the bases of the lungs where the pressure in the vessels is greater than alveolar pressure so perfusion is greater than ventilation. Blood flow and alveolar ventilation are never perfectly matched. Perfusion (Q) is usually greater than ventilation (V). A normal V/Q ratio is 0.8. If the V/Q ratio is low this means there is not enough ventilation to oxygenate the blood. If the V/Q ratio is high this means blood flow is less than ventilation so ventilation is being wasted.

What is the cause of hypoxemia in ARDS and how is it treated?
Hypoxaemia can result when there is inequality in alveolar ventilation and pulmonary perfusion (V/Q mismatch). V/Q mismatch is the most common cause of hypoxia in critically ill patients. It is caused by intrapulmonary shunting of blood resulting from airspace filling or collapse. Findings include dyspnea and tachypnea. Diagnosis is by ABGs and chest x-ray. Treatment usually requires mechanical ventilation.
What is the clinical significance of static compliance?
Lung compliance is a measurement of the relationship between changes in lung

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