A patient with emphysema has an increased work of breathing. Which of the following gas mixtures would tend to benefit this patient the most?

A. air with an Fio2 of 0.24
B. 100% O2
C. heliox
D. nitric oxide


ANS: A
A. Correct response: According to Reynold's number, gas flow tends to be laminar in the peripheral airways and turbulent in the large airways. Because the velocity of the flow in the peripheral airways is normally slow (molecular diffusion in the alveoli), theoretically heliox would have little effect on the flow pattern. On the other hand, diseases that affect the larger airways would likely have a tendency to respond favorably to heliox. Because the airflow through the large airways is often turbulent and at a higher velocity, heliox would tend to reduce the velocity of the flow through narrowed (partially obstructed) airways. Therefore patients with asthma and postextubation stridor have been documented to experience improved ventilation as a result of breathing heliox mixtures.
B. Incorrect response: See explanation A.
C. Incorrect response: See explanation A.
D. Incorrect response: See explanation A.

Health Professions

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