Respiratory Case Histories - Case 18

A 22-year-old man was in a motorcycle accident with resultant neck injuries that led to partial paralysis of the upper and lower limbs. 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.
a. Tidal volume =
b. Alveolar ventilation =

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 involving causing the tachypnea in this individual.

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