Bernice Mottram is a 70 year old female. Bernice has smoked since she was 25 yea

Question

Bernice Mottram is a 70 year old female. Bernice has smoked since she was 25 years old, smoking on average 10 cigarettes per day. Bernice has been finding that in the last 2 years, she fatigues easily, even with light exertion, experiencing significant shortness of breath. On consultation with her doctor for her increasing shortness of breath, Bernice was noted to have a prolonged expiratory phase in her breathing, increased anterior-posterior chest diameter and cyanosis of the nail beds. Bernice also describes a having a mucous producing cough that lasted for 3 months during winter, and this has happened every winter for the last 3 years. Bernice was referred to the respiratory investigations department, in which pulmonary function tests were performed. Her results were as follows: TABLE Testing parameter Vital capacity Residual volume Functional residual capacity Increased Expiratory flow rate Arterial PO O, saturation Arterial PCO Test findings (in relation to normal values) Decreased Increased Decreased 48mmHg (normal> 100mmHg) 78% (normal >95%) 69mmHg (normal

Explanation / Answer

Vital Capacity is referred to as the amount of air that is expelled from the lungs , after taking the maximum deepest breath . In this case, the expelled air is low (i.e . the person is unable to breathe deeply, which makes the person unable to inhale deeply.) That is what causes , Bernice shortness of breath.

Whereas , the Residual volume refers to the remaining air/gas in the lungs after taking the deepest breath . In this test , the remaining volume of the air/gas found is higher than what it should be expected to be .

It is so because , Bernice has tendency of having mucous , which in turn results in cough. Due to cough , Bernice is unable to exhale properly , hence leaving a considerable amount of remaining gas in the chest area . (i.e. lungs )

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse B
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.