Explain how cystic fibrosis is related to oxygen saturation? What is the connection between them? What are some of the things you will monitor as a nurse when someone has got cystic fibrosis??

 

Cystic Fibrosis is an inherited disorder associated with mucus hypersecretion which leads to chronic pulmonary infection and inflammation in the lungs leading to lung destrution and death from respiratory failure.

It is unusual for the patients with cystic fibrosis to require long term oxygen therapy. However, cystic fibrosis lung disease eventually results in chronic hypoxemia or low blood oxygen levels. Progressive damage to lung and tissue and spasm of blood vessels due to hypoxia may lead to pulmonary hypertension.

In cystic fibrosis patients, the CFTR gene is mutated and doesn't work. blood flowing to infected areas of the lung is not re-routed by the CFTR protein, resulting in impaired blood oxygenation.

Connection between cystic fibrosis and oxygen saturation

The availability of non-invasive oxygen saturation measurement could prove to be a useful tool for following up the progress of patients with cystic fibrosis. As the lung disease progresses , sleep disordered with low oxygen levels at night may develop , stimulating the development of increased blood pressure in the lung and increasing strain on the heart. hence low level of oxygen saturation may also significantly affect health related quality of life leading to cystic fibrosis.

Step-by-step explanation

Some of the things you will monitor as a nurse when someone has got cystic fibrosis

• Monitor respiratory and heart rate for any changes, there will be an increase in the respiratory and heart rate as a way of compensation for early hypoxia.
• Access for changes in respiratory status such as labored breathing and tachypnea ,the patient will adapt breathing over time to facilitate breathing exchange of gases in the lungs.
• Monitor arterial blood gases and oxygen saturation, Increasing Paco2 and decreasing Paco2 are signs of respiratory failure and nurses should monitor the oxygen saturation in the arteries.
• Avoid giving high oxygen concentration in clients with chronic carbon dioxide retention, supplemental oxygen maintains adequate oxygenation decreasing the work of breathing, calorie expenditure and increasing level of comfort, hence maintaining an oxygen saturation greater than 90%.