Question

an unresponsive 7 - month - old female is lying limp in her fathers arms. her conjunctivae are pale and moist. you are only able to auscultate faint wheezes in her upper chest. her vital signs are p 76 and r 18
which phase of respiratory compromise is the patient in?
respiratory distress
respiratory failure
respiratory arrest

Explanation:

Respiratory distress is characterized by increased work of breathing, but the patient can still maintain oxygenation. Respiratory arrest is when breathing stops completely. In respiratory failure, the body can no longer compensate. The patient is unresponsive (a sign of failure to maintain adequate oxygenation to the brain), has pale conjunctivae (possible poor oxygen - carrying capacity or poor perfusion related to respiratory issues), and faint wheezes (indicating ineffective air movement). The heart rate (P = 76) is not extremely high (which might be seen in distress as a compensatory mechanism) and the respiratory rate (R = 18) is not highly elevated (another sign that the compensatory mechanisms of distress may have failed).

Answer:

Respiratory Failure