Case Study
P12
Case Study 6, M. J. Malachowski, Ph.D
A 22-year old man was in a motorcycle accident with resultant neck injuries that led to partial paralysis of the upper and lower linbs. Almost immediately his chest felt heavy and he became dyspneic. His pulmonary function values were as follows:
Vital capacity (supine) 650 ml Minute ventilation (supine) 6 L/min respiratory rate (supine) 30 b/min PaO2 61 mm Hg PaCO2 47 mm Hg
1. What are the values for the tidal volume (TV) and the alveolar ventilation (AV) for this individual? (Assume a normal value for dead space.) Compare with normal.
2. What is contributing to the decreased alveolar ventilation?
3. Which nerves and muscles are involved in this problem?
4. How is the residual volume affected?
5. Define dyspnea.
6. What is causing the dyspnea in this individual?
7. Define tachypnea.
8. Describe the reflexes involved in causing the tachypnea in this individual.
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Tidal volume = ___________________________________________________________
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Alveolar ventilation = ___________________________________________________
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