Final answer:
For a client with pneumonia on oxygen therapy, the preferred mask types are a non-rebreather mask for high oxygen concentration or a Venturi mask for controlled oxygen delivery. Pneumonia hampers gas exchange by filling alveoli with fluid; thus, increased oxygen concentration assists in maintaining adequate oxygen saturation levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a client with pneumonia is placed on oxygen, the preferred choice of mask is typically a non-rebreather mask or a Venturi mask. A non-rebreather mask has a reservoir bag attached and delivers high concentrations of oxygen. The design of the mask includes valves that prevent the exhaled air from getting back into the reservoir bag, ensuring that the patient inhales nearly pure oxygen. On the other hand, a Venturi mask is often used when controlled oxygen delivery is required; it mixes oxygen with room air, creating high flow with controlled oxygen concentration. The correct choice of mask depends on the severity of the pneumonia and the specific needs of the patient, as assessed by healthcare professionals.
Pneumonia can affect the exchange of gases by filling the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs, with fluid or pus, impeding oxygen from reaching the bloodstream. During the breathing process, oxygen must bind with hemoglobin in the lungs (Hb(aq) + O₂(g) → HbO₂(aq)), which can be compromised. Administration of a higher concentration of oxygen through a mask can increase the rate of oxygen binding with the hemoglobin, improving the patient's oxygen saturation levels.
Patients with breathing problems such as pneumonia benefit from higher oxygen concentrations as carbon monoxide poisoning can be treated effectively with 100 percent oxygen. Providing carbon dioxide would not work because it does not bind with hemoglobin in a way that displaces carbon monoxide or supplies the necessary oxygen to the body's tissues.