In: Nursing
Explain the physiological mechanism of diffusion of oxygen, how could you measure the diffusing capacity of the patient, how it might be affected by the disease, and which conditions from the vital signs may be affecting even more the already impaired mechanism of diffusion
The respiratory system performs gas exchange. lungs make air to
move to alveolar for the gas exchange process. Mechanism of gas
entering in the lung where gas molecules make force on the surface.
Gas present in the different type of molecules. partial pressure is
a single type of gas in gas mixture important for the movement of
gases. gas move from an area where the partial pressure is high or
low. in that place more rapid movement of gas will happen. the
concentration of gas in a liquid depends upon the solubility of a
gas in the liquid. Equilibrium of gas molecules dissolved in air
and liquid. The air in the alveoli and in the atmosphere
composition differs. Gas exchange removes o2 and co2 to alveolar
air. when there is deep and forces breath that changes the alveolar
air composition more rapidly than normal breathing. that time
partial pressure o2 and co2 changes that affect the diffusion
process that makes movement pf materials across the membrane. this
process cause o2 to enter and co2 to leave the blood rapidly.
Diffusing capacity is measured for how well o2 and co2 are diffused
between lung and blood. incase of lung disease pulmonary function
level decrease the diffusion capacity reduces according to the
severity due to restrictive and obstructive lung disease. pulmonary
artery occlusion and conditions like respiratory distress cause
hypoxia and hypocapnia that reduce the co2 elimination and cause
alveolar co2 tension that causes alveolar collapse and induced
bronchoconstriction. pulmonary gas exchange abnormal, ischemia,
inflammation, reperfusion condition cause alteration in lung
mechanism, it alters the vital signs like bradypnea and tachypnea,
tachycardia due to the hypoxic condition due to airway
obstruction.