Question

A patient's airways would least likely collapse under which of the following conditions of intrapulmonary pressure (P_ip) and intrapleural pressure (P_pul)? (Hint Transpulmonary pressure is calculated as P_pul-P_ip)

Select one:

a. P_ip = 30 mmHg and P_pul = 35 mmHg

b. P_ip = 15 mmHg and P_pul = 20 mmHg

c. P_ip = -5 mmHg and P_pul = 0 mmHg

d. P_ip = 20 mmHg and P_pul = 0 mmHg

Answer 1

The transpulmonary pressure is the pressure difference between the alveolar pressure and the intrapleural pressure.

Under normal physiological conditions the trans pulmonary pressure remains positive and the intrapleural pressure is always negtive to prevent the lung collapse.

The transpulmonary pressure is calculated as the difference between the intrapleural pressure and the intra pulmonary pressure.

fron the above 2 conditions the patients airway wont collapse in option C with Pip=-5mmHg and Ppul=0mmHg

The transpulmonary pressure is +5mmHg