Introductory Problem

Here is an example problem that is very applicable to the RESP 220 course and uses the information you have obtained from your ANPH classes.

If a patient has a total lung compliance of 25ml/cmH2O and you fill the lungs with 800ml of air, from resting functional residual capacity, what would the pressure be in the lungs (in cmH2O).  Note that you have held the 800ml of air in the lungs until the volume and pressure is totally equal in all areas of the lungs thus there is no flow and no effects of resistance.  What all this means is that the pressures in the lungs and the pressure readings on the mechanical ventilator would be the same.

Problems like the one above are critical to our understanding of lung and ventilator mechanics.  It's okay if you struggle with this problem for a while.

Post your answer as a comment and I will check in to see if you are correct.

Al