Question

Joe Smith is a 69-year-old male with a 50-year history of smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day (i.e. 100-pack-year smoking history). Over the past 5 years, he has become increasingly short of breath. At first, he noticed this only when exercising, but now he is even short of breath at rest. Over the past two years, he has had several bouts of lower respiratory tract infection treated successfully with antibiotics. His shortness of breath hasn't subsided, and his breathing is assisted by use of his accessory muscles of respiration. Pulmonary function testing revealed the graph below:

  

Answer the following keeping in mind the components that will be considered when grading the assignment:

1. Observe the graph, identify what each axis represents and calculate the following (must show all calculations for full credit):

•X axis- Time in seconds is given and it represents time respiration for Mr. Smith’s respiratory muscles.

•Y axis- Volume (cc) is given and represents the amount of air Mr. Smith exhaled and inhaled from his lungs.

•Tidal volume- The volume of air which is transported into and out of the lungs with each respiratory cycle. Normal value is around 500 mL per inspiration.

Tidal Volume = 2500 (cc) – 2900 (cc)

Tidal Volume = 400 (cc)

•Inspiratory reserve volume- The extra amount of air that can be inhaled after normal inspiration. Normal value Is between 2000-3000 mL.

Inspiratory Reserve Volume = 4800 (cc) – 3000 (cc) =

Inspiratory Reserve Volume = 1800 (cc)

•Expiratory reserve volume- The extra amount of air expired from the lungs by determined effort after normal expiration. Normal value is about 1200 mL

Expiratory Reserve Volume = 2000 (cc) – 1000 (cc)

Expiratory Reserve Volume = 1000 (cc)

•What do the values above represent?

The values represent the Respiratory Values and Capacity of Lungs of Mr. Joe Smith. They’re not normal range. The Total lung capacity of Mr. Smith is less than normal.

2.Using the values above calculate Joe’s vital lung capacity. Be sure to explain the formula used and what each value represents.

Tidal Volume (TV): IC = TV + IRV

TV = IC – IRV

IC = Inspiratory Capacity (2900)

IRV = Inspiratory Reserve Volume (2500)

TV = Tidal Volume (400)

Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV): FRC = ERV + RV

ERV = FRC – RV

FRC = Functional Residual Capacity (2000)

RV = Residual Volume (1000)

ERV = Expiratory Reserve Volume (1000)

VC = IRV + TV + ERV

VC = 2500 + 400 + 1000

VC = 3900

3. Assuming a healthy individual draw a graph using the normal values for tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume, expiratory reserve volume and be sure to include the x and y axis.

* the attached greph answers this

*im having difficulty with 4-6

Use the information you provided above and the graph you drew to answer the following question. What can you conclude about Joe's lung physiology? 4. . Analyze all information provided and make an appropriate diagnosis using supporting data and facts (be sure to include this for full credit) Based on the diagnosis provided above describe the anatomical changes that have occurred within Joe's lungs and how that contributes to some of the symptoms observed. 6.

Answer 1

4. Mr. Joe smith lab report shows that the tidal volume, Inspiratory reserve volume, Expiratory reserve volume are reduced. The lung volumes are reduced. It shows that his lungs are finding difficult to expand. It may be due to the dysfunction of the alveoli. Due to the prolonged smoking his lungs received reduced oxygen so he may have hypercapnia. So later the parts of alveoli not received oxygen, so it tends to become stiff. Thus the lungs is not getting fully expanded. This is the physiological changes.

5. From the data, it is clear that the lung volumes are reduced.Diagnosis: Restrictive lung disease ( It can be pulmonary fibrosis). Only in this type of disease the lung volumes reduced.

6. Alveolar fibrosis - stiffness of the lungs - difficulty in lung expansion - hence rapid breathing by using accessory muscles - Hence the symptom shortness of breath present.

Due to the impaired lung expansion and function the extrapulmonary fluids may get accumulated in lung area it contributes for lung infection.