27. Pulmonary Alterations Flashcards
subjective experience of breathing discomfort often described as breathlessness, air hunger, shortness of breath, or labored breathing
dyspnea
Most severe signs of dyspnea
- nostril flaring - use of accessory muscles - retraction of supercostal and intercostal muscles (common in children)
dyspnea that occurs when an individual lies flat (ABD contents exert pressure on diaphragm)
orthopnea
Orthopnea is common in what condition
heart failure
occurs when individuals w/ pulmonary or cardiac disorders awake at night gasping for air and have to sit or stand to relieve dyspnea
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
protective reflex that helps clear airways by an explosive expiration
cough
coughing up blood or bloody secretions
hemoptysis
normal/rhythmic/effortless breathing
eupnea
breathing pattern characterized by increased ventilatory rate, very large tidal volumes, and no expiratory pause
Kussmaul respiration (hyperpnea)
amount of air inspired and expired in a single breath
tidal volume
causes of Kussmaul respiration
strenuous exercise or metabolic acidosis
breathing pattern characterized by alternating periods of deep and shallow breathing
Cheyne-Stokes respirations
Explain the rhythm of Cheyne-Stokes respirations
- increased levels of CO2 -> tachypnea - CO2 levels decrease -> leads to apnea until CO2 accumulates again
causes of Cheyne-Stokes respirations
any condition that reduces blood flow to the brainstem -> slows impulses sending info to respiratory centers of brainstem
inadequate alveolar ventilation in relation to metabolic demands (CO2 removal does not keep up w/ CO2 production)
hypoventilation
PaCO2 is greater than 44 mmHg
hypercapnia (increased CO2 levels) -> leads to respiratory acidosis
alveolar ventilation exceeds metabolic demands (lungs remove CO2 faster than it is produced)
hyperventilation
PaCO2 less than 36 mmHg
hypocapnia (decreased CO2 levels) -> leads to respiratory alkalosis
bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by increased amounts of desaturated or reduced Hgb in the blood; late symptom of deoxygenation
cyanosis
peripheral vs central cyanosis
- peripheral: often caused by poor circulation due to intense peripheral vasoconstriction (best seen in nail beds) - central: caused by decreased arterial oxygenation (low PaO2) from pulmonary disease or cardiac right-to-left shunts (best seen in buccal mucosa and lips)
selective bulbous enlargement of the end of a digit
clubbing
7 causes of hypercapnia
- depression of respiratory center by drugs - diseases of the medulla - abnormalities of spinal conducting pathways (spinal cord disruption) - diseases of NMJ or respiratory muscles (MG or MD) - thoracic cage abnormalities - large airway obstruction (tumors/sleep apnea) - increased work of breathing or physiologic dead space
hypoxia vs hypoxemia
- hypoxia: reduced O2 in cells - hypoxemia: reduced O2 in blood
pathological condition which results when the alveoli of the lungs are perfused (Q) with blood as normal, but ventilation (the supply of air or V) fails to supply the perfused region -> low V/Q
pulmonary shunt
V/Q mismatching results in what?
hypoxemia
air in the pleural space caused by a rupture in the visceral pleura
pneumothorax
occurs unexpectedly in healthy individuals between 20-40 y/o and is caused by spontaneous rupture of blebs on the visceral pleura
primary (spontaneous) pneumothorax
type of pneumothorax caused by chest trauma
secondary pneumothorax
air pressure in the pleural space = barometric pressure; air drawn into pleural space on inspiration is forced out on expiration
open (communicating) pneumothorax
one-way valve that permits air to enter on inspiration but prevents escape during expiration (causes mediastinal shift) -> life threatening
tension pneumothorax
results from fracture of several consecutive ribs in more than one place or fracture of sternum and several consecutive ribs
flail chest
Describe chest wall movement w/ flail chest
paradoxical movement - chest wall moves in on inspiration - chest wall moves out on expiration
presence of fluid in the pleural space
pleural effusion
Name 5 types of pleural effusion drainage
- transudative (hydrothorax): watery drainage from intact capillaries - exudative: WBC and protein - empyema: pus-like drainage - hemothorax: bloody drainage - chylothorax: milky lymphatic drainage and fat droplets
diseases characterized by airway obstruction that is worse w/ expiration (more force is required to expire a given volume of air and emptying of the lungs is slowed)
obstructive lung diseases
3 most common obstructive lung diseases
- asthma - emphysema - chronic bronchitis