Airway resistance (Raw) is calculated as which formula?

Study for the Respiratory Therapy Test. Use flashcards and multiple choice questions, featuring hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam successfully!

Multiple Choice

Airway resistance (Raw) is calculated as which formula?

Airway resistance measures how much pressure is needed to push gas through the airways for a given flow. In ventilation, peak inspiratory pressure includes pressure losses from both the lung’s elastic recoil and airway resistance, while plateau pressure is measured during an inspiratory hold when there is no flow and reflects only the elastic component. The pressure drop caused by the airways is the difference between PIP and PLAT. Dividing that pressure drop by the inspiratory flow gives Raw, the resistance, in units of cm H2O per L/s. This reflects the idea that pressure needed to drive a certain flow through the airways equals flow times resistance. The other forms would mix or invert the components and do not isolate the resistive pressure correctly.

Airway resistance measures how much pressure is needed to push gas through the airways for a given flow. In ventilation, peak inspiratory pressure includes pressure losses from both the lung’s elastic recoil and airway resistance, while plateau pressure is measured during an inspiratory hold when there is no flow and reflects only the elastic component. The pressure drop caused by the airways is the difference between PIP and PLAT. Dividing that pressure drop by the inspiratory flow gives Raw, the resistance, in units of cm H2O per L/s. This reflects the idea that pressure needed to drive a certain flow through the airways equals flow times resistance. The other forms would mix or invert the components and do not isolate the resistive pressure correctly.

More practice questions