Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN) Practice Exam

In a child experiencing respiratory distress, how does the inspiration time compare to the expiration time?

1. They are equal

2. Expiration is longer than inspiration

3. Inspiration is longer than expiration

4. There is no clear comparison

The correct answer is: Expiration is longer than inspiration

In children experiencing respiratory distress, the expiration phase is longer than the inspiration phase due to several physiological factors. Normally, expiration is a passive process that occurs as the lungs recoil after inhalation. In respiratory distress, there is often increased airway resistance caused by conditions such as asthma or bronchiolitis, leading to difficulty in expelling air. This results in prolonged expiration as the child struggles to breathe out against narrowed airways. Additionally, children often engage in respiratory compensatory mechanisms, which could manifest as a longer duration of expiration to ensure they can adequately ventilate and clear stale air from their lungs, allowing more oxygen to be taken in during the next inhalation. Recognizing this pattern can be crucial for healthcare professionals in assessing and managing the severity of respiratory distress in pediatric patients.