A patient enters your respiratory laboratory complaining of feeling lightheaded.

Question

A patient enters your respiratory laboratory complaining of feeling lightheaded. You measure their tidal volume at 100ml per breath and respiratory frequency at 58 breaths per minute, an investigation of their lung capacity reveals a measured anatomic dead space of 120ml.

2a. What is their Minute Ventilation? Show all work.

2b. What is their Alveolar Ventilation? Show all work.

2c. Assuming their metabolism in normal, are they Hypo- or Hyper- ventilating, Explain your reasoning.

2d.What should they do to relieve their lightheadedness?

Explanation / Answer

Based on the given data,

2a.

The Minute Ventilation:

RR×TV = 58×100 = 5800

Therefore, the Minute Ventilation = 5800 or 5.8 L/min.

2b.

The Alveolar Ventilation:

(TV-DS)×RR = (100-120)×58 = 6960 or 6.96 L/min

Therefore, the Alveolar Ventilation =6.96 L/min.

2c.

From the obtained values, the Minute Ventilation is less when compared to Alveolar Ventilation, hence they are hyperventilating.

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