Acute Care Flashcards
IPPA: Inspection –> Head
- Facial expressions
- Orientation level: who, what, where
- Speech: slurred, SOB,
- Skin: pallor, cyanosis, scars
- Lips: colour, pursed lip breathing
IPPA: Inspection –> Neck
- Accessory muscle use
- Apical breathing
IPPA: Inspection –> Chest
- Scars
- Chest wall deformities: barrel chest, pigeon chest, kyphosis, scoliosis
- Muscle wasting
- Type of breather: apical, diaphragmatic, accessory muscle use, intercostal indwelling
- Chest movement/breathing pattern: normal is 12-20
Types of Breathing: Eupnea
Normal
Types of Breathing: Tachypnea
Abnormally rapid breathing
Types of Breathing: Hyperpnea
Increased depth and rate of breathing
Types of Breathing: Bradypnea
Abnormally slow breathing
Types of Breathing: Apnea
Pauses in breathing
Types of Breathing: Cheyne Stroke
Hyperpnea and then apnea
IPPA: Inspection –> Limbs
- Colour (venous return)
- Clubbing of fingers
- Edema: location and amount
- Cough: weak vs strong, productive vs non-productive
- Sputum: colour, smell, amount, texture
Sputum Colour Meaning: Green, brown, white, red/pink, yellow
Green and yellow: infection
Brown: old blood
Red/pink: new blood
White: normal
IPPA: Palpation –> Chest Wall Expansion
- Instruct patient to take deep breaths on inspiration and expiration
- Note differences in thumbs from side to side
- Compare R vs L side
IPPA: Palpation –> Anterior
- Upper region: thumbs on parasternal border and anchor fingers around shoulder
- Mid region: nipple region
- Lower region: lower ribcage
IPPA: Palpation –> Posterior
- Upper region: thumbs down sides of spine and anchor fingers around shoulder
- Mid region: at inferior angle of scapula
- Lower region: lower rib cage
IPPA: Palpation –> Tactile Fremitus
- Feeling vibrations and assessing secretion retention.
- Use ulnar border of both hands
IPPA: Palpation –> Tracheal Position
- Using two fingers go above jugular notch and finger width on each side should be equal
IPPA: Palpation –> Rate
- Respiratory rate
- Heart rate
- Blood pressure
IPPA: Percussion
Pt extends middle finger over intercostal space with left hand and taps middle phalange with right middle finger and listens to sounds
IPPA: Percussion –> Sounds
Normal: resonant
Dull: consolidation, pleural fluids, pulmonary edema
Hyperresonant: hyperinflation (COPD, acute asthma attack, pneumothorax)
IPPA: Percussion –> Locations
- Upper: above 2nd rib
- Middle: 4th or 5th interspace, lateral to sternum or spine
- Lower: 9th or 10th interspace
IPPA: Auscultation
- 11 spots on front, 14 on back
- Directly over skin
- Not over bone
- Breathe in and out through MOUTH
- Slow and deep breaths
- Check for dizziness every 2-3 breaths
- Compare bilaterally
Pulmonary Function Tests: Overview
Quantitative evaluation to distinguish 2 broad categories of disorders
Static or dynamic lung volumes
Pulmonary Function Tests: Tidal Volume
- Volume inspired and expired with each normal breath
- Increase in TV during exercise by tapping into IRV and ERV
Pulmonary Function Tests: Inspiration Reserve Volume
- Maximum volume that can be inspired over the inspiration of a normal (tidal) breath
- Used during exercise 2-3L
Pulmonary Function Tests: Expiratory Reserve Volume
- Maximal volume that can be expired after the expiration of a normal (tidal) breath 1L
Pulmonary Function Tests: Residual Volume
- Volume that can remain in the lungs after a maximal expiration
- Cannot be measured by spinrometry
Pulmonary Function Tests: Inspiration Capacity
- Volume of maximal inspiration (inspiration reserve volume + tidal volume)
Pulmonary Function Tests: Functional Residual Capacity
- Volume of gas remaining in lung after normal expiration
- Cannot be measured with static spirometry (because includes residual volume)
Pulmonary Function Tests: Vital Capacity
- Volume of maximal inspiration and expiration
- Inspiration reserve volume + tidal volume + expiration reserve = inspiration capacity + expiration reserve volume
Pulmonary Function Tests: Total Lung Capacity
- The volume of the lung after maximal inspiration
- Sum of all four lung volumes, cannot be measured statically with spirometry because includes residual capacity
Pulmonary Function Tests: Dead Space
- Volume of respiratory apparatus that does not participate in gas exchange
~ 300 mL
Anatomical Dead Space
- Volume of the conducting airways
- Approximately 150 mL
Physiological Dead Space
- Volume of lung that does not participate in gas exchange
- In normal lungs this equals anatomical dead space
- May be greater in lung disease
Force Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1)
- Volume of air that can be expired in 1 second after maximal inspiration
- Is normally 80% of forced vital capacity
- In restrictive lung diseases both FEV and FVC decrease so the ratio remains greater than or equal to .80
- In obstructive lung diseases, the FEV1 is reduced more than FVC so the ratio of FEV1/FVC is less than .80
Simple Spirometry
- Generates flow volume loop
- Measures FVC and FEV1
- Standard measure of pulmonary function
- Can provide graphic representation of numerous pulmonary disorders
Arterial Blood Gases: Overview
- Used to assess effectiveness of gas exchange and in the diagnosis of acute respiratory conditions
- Body is always trying to maintain homeostasis
- Trying to keep pH between 7.35 and 7.45
- Changes in acid and base concentrations are buffers to pH stays in range
Arterial Blood Gases: Two Systems
- Respiratory - acute quick response - blowing out CO2
- Renal - takes a few days - chronic diseases rely on this system
Arterial Blood Gases: Bicarbonate HCO3
- Important for buffering
CO2 + H2O <> H2CO3 <> H+ + HCO3
Arterial Blood Gases: Normal Values
7.35 - 7.45
When lower = metabolic or respiratory acidosis
When higher = metabolic or respiratory alkalosis
PaCO2 35-45 mmHg
By product of respiration, controlled by ventilation
HCO3 22-28
SaO2 95-100
PaO2 80-100
Arterial Blood Gases: Low PaCO2
Respiratory Alkalosis
- Caused by HYPERventilation (blowing off CO2)
- Pain/anxiety, mechanical ventilation, hypoxia (anemia, high altitude, right to left cardiac shunt), meningitis
- Lung disorders: pneumonia, PEm, PEd
- Sensation of dyspnea
- Drugs: catecholamines, theophylline and early stage of overdose
Arterial Blood Gases: High PaCO2
Respiratory Acidosis
- Caused by HYPOventilation (retaining CO2)
- Central respiratory depression: drug depression of respiratory center, hypoventilation due to severe obesity, sleep apnea
- Neuromuscular: GBS, myasthenia gravis, muscle relaxant drugs
- Lung or chest wall defects: chest trauma, restrictive lung disease, COPD, aspiration
Upper airway obstruction: laryngospasm, bronchospasm/asthma, carbon dioxide poisoning
Arterial Blood Gases: Low HCO3
Metabolic Acidosis
- Caused by increase in H+ or excess loss of HCO3
- Two biggest causes: ketoacidosis and renal failure (kidneys can’t filter out H+)
- Loss of HCO3 - severe dirrahea (not able to absorb)
Arterial Blood Gases: High HCO3
Metabolic Alkalosis
- Caused by loss of H+ or increased HCO3
- Loss of gastirc acid from vomiting
- Diuretic: hypokalemia (potassium depletion)
- Burns: due to volume depletion
- Antacid overdose (Tums)
Arterial Blood Gases: Compensations
- Mechanisms will allow body to retain acids or bases to compensate for the primary acid-base disturbance
- Decrease in pH (acidosis): hyperventilation or reabsorb HCO3 in kidney
- Increase in pH (alkalosis): hypoventilation or retain access H+ in urine
Obstructive Lung Disease: Asthma Overview
- Chronic inflammation of airways characterized by variable airflow limitation and airway hyper responses
- Often reversible with bronchodilators
- Triad of asthma: allergies, eczema and asthma
Obstructive Lung Disease: Asthma Types
- Extrinisic: allergic or atopic: specific trigger, usually childhood onset
- Intrinisic: non allergic: no known cause/trigger, hypersensitivity to bacteria, virus, drugs, cold air, exercise and stress
- Occupational: exposure of workplace irritants
Obstructive Lung Disease: Asthma S/S
- Wheezing
- Breathlessness
- Chest tightness
- Coughing
- Coarse breath sounds
- Accessory respiratory muscle use
Obstructive Lung Disease: Asthma Treatment
- Prevent triggers, control pharmacologically
- Exercise: keep patient up right, use inhaler, lean forward and teach pursed lip breathing
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Overview
- Chronic respiratory condition characterized by progressive airway obstruction that is not fully reversible
- Destruction of pulmonary vascular bed and hypoxic vasoconstriction - leads to pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale (right sided heart failure)
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD - Two Types
- Emphysema or Chronic Bronchitis
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Emphysema
- Parenchymal destruction
- Destruction of air spaces distal to terminal bronchiole which causes merging of alveoli into larger airspace
- Reduced surface area needed for gas exchange
- Loss of airways and capillaries
- Elasticity of alveoli are compromised so airways collapse early and inspired air becomes trapped
- Decreased perfusion, hyperventilation (puts diaphragm at disadvantage)
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Chronic Bronchitis
- Small airway remodelling
- Productive cough lasting for three months/year for 2 consecutive years
- S/S: long term irritation of the trachea/bronchi, increased mucus production, decreased vital capacity
- Airway wall increases due to inflammation and scarring resulting in smaller airways to move air in, increase in mucus, damage to cilia increase inflection susceptibility, increase in airway smooth muscle contraction can cause increase in bronchoconstriction
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Affects
- Hyperinflation and gas exchange abnormalities
- Increase in airway resistance and premature collapse of the airway upon expiration - air trapping
- More air enter on inspiration than exits on expiration
- Hyperventilation leads to shorted inspiration muscles
- Alveolar destruction results in poor gas exchange
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Risk Factors
- Age of onset
- Smoking
- Occupational exposures
- Biomass smoke
- Genetic susceptibility
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD S/S
- Airflow obstruction
- Dyspnea
- Chronic productive cough
- Wheeze
- Frequent exacerbations
- Fatigue
- Muscle weakness
- Deconditioned
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Diagnosis
- Spirometry is the most important test
- Can do CXR, CT scan, diffusing capacity
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Treatment
1) Pharmaceuticals: smooth muscle relaxant (bronchodilators) or reduce airway inflammation (corticosteroid)
2) O2 therapy: often used during exacerbations, 2-3 L/min normally good, goal to titrate lowest amount to keep SPO2 88-92%
3) Pursed lip breathing: helps to create back pressure to help keep airways open while exhaling, helps the residual volume decrease (avoid deep breathing exercises?)
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Oxygen Therapy & Hypercapnic (reasons why)Obstructive Lung Disease:
- Clients are chronically hypercapnic and body has adjusted to this
- If more O2 then more CO2 and can contribute to more of an exacerbation
1) Poor ventilation/perfusion matching: poorly ventilated lung tissue will result in vasoconstriction, added O2 will decrease vasoconstriction so blood now goes to poor ventilation sites and can decreases the amount of CO2 that can be blown out
2) Haldane effect: hemoglobin canes more CO2 in deoxygenated blood so then more O2 then CO2 molecules are forced off hemoglobin, increase in PaCO2 in blood
3) Reduction in hypoxic drive: response to breathe when CO2 levels are high are blunted in COPD populations, low O2 levels tell them to breathe so if more O2 can lead to hypoventilation and CO2 accumulates in the body
Obstructive Lung Disease: COPD Pulmonary Function Test
- Increased functional residual capacity
- Increased total lung capacity
- Increased residual volume
- Forced expiratory volume in one second is less than 70% of the forced vital capacity
Obstructive Lung Disease: Cystic Fibrosis Overview and Cause
- Autosomal, recessively inherited genetic disorder
- Abnormality in chloride (Cl-) and sodium (Na+) ion that transports across the epithelium of the respiratory, digestive and genetial tracts
- Results in THICK MUCUS and scarring and formation of cysts in affected body organs
Obstructive Lung Disease: Cystic Fibrosis: Testing
- Family history, 2 copies of abnormal genes
- Sweat test: checking for Cl-
- Obstruction on lung function test
- Chest wall x-ray: linear opacities, thickened bronchial walls, consolidation due to atelectasis
Obstructive Lung Disease: Cystic Fibrosis: Clinical Presentation
- Respiratory symptoms are most common: recurrent chest infections, consolidation, atelectasis and thickening bronchial walls + breathlessness in later stages
- Finger clubbing
- Delayed puberty and skeletal maturity
- Infertility in males and reduced fertility in females
- Symptomatic steatorrhea (thickened fatty stools) due to pancreas dysfunction
- Diabetes
- Liver disease
- OP
- Chronic bacterial infections and progressive loss of lung function which leads to resp failure and ear;y death
Obstructive Lung Disease: Cystic Fibrosis: Medical Treatment
- Bronchodilators
- Aggressive antibiotics to treat infections
- Oxygen supplementation
- Lung transplants are common
Obstructive Lung Disease: Cystic Fibrosis: PT Treatment
- Airway clearance techniques
- Exercise: posture, strength and endurance
- Secretion removal (2-3x a day) - can time with bronchodilator use
Obstructive Lung Disease: Bronchiectasis: Overview
- Irreverisble destruction (necrosis) and DIALATION of the airways associated with chronic bacterial infection
- Excess mucus production results in narrowed airways
- Hx of repeated respiratory infections
- Can be caused by CF, TB, and endobronchial tumors
- Eventually alveoli are replaced with scar tissue due to chronic inflammation
- Auscultation: coarse crackles over affected lobes
- Treatment: bronchodilators, antibiotics, regular secretion clearance techniques
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: Overview
- Interstitial lung disease
- Characterized by a loss in lung compliance: stiff and less compliant lungs (not airways)
- Can be due to intrinsic or extrinsic factors
- Disorders that are intrinsic typically have an increase in scarring (pulmonary fibrosis)
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: S/S
- Dyspnea
- Severe O2 desaturation
- finger clubbing
- Dry/painful cough
- Rapid/shallow breathing
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: Lung Function Test
- Small lung volumes = decrease in FEV1 and FVC (ratio will appear normal)
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: Treatment
- O2 therapy, lung transplant. pulmonary rehab
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: Intrinsic Causes
- Pulmonary fibrosis, no known cause, TB: inhaling harmful chemicals, radiation therapy, meds
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: scarring and fibrotic tissue
- Sarcoidosis: granulomatous (accumulations of macrophages that form nodules)
- Asbestosis: caused by inhaling harmful chemicals
- Pneumoconiosis (coal workers lung)
Restrictive Pulmonary Disease: Extrinsic Causes
- Neuromuscular: muscle weakness results in decreased respiratory muscle strength and reduced vital capacity and chest wall becomes stiff due to shallow breathing
- SCI lesion, polio, GBS, ALS - Connective tissue disorders: immobility of joints
- Ankylosis spondylitis, RA - Kyphosis
- Obesity
Pleural Effusion: Overview
- Accumulation of fluid in the pleural space due to disease which can impair breathing by limiting expansion of lungs
Pleural Effusion: 2 Types
- Transudate: high fluidity and low protein (thin and clear fluids), commonly due to heart failure
- Exudate: low fluidity and high protein/cells (thick pus and opaque), formation of fluid due to inflammation of pleura, caused by infection, disease (cancer)
Pleural Effusion: S/S
- SOB
- Chest pain
- Percussion: dull
- Ausculation: decreased or ABSENT breath sounds, may hear a pleural rub
- Chest Xray: may cause mediastinal shift to opposite side
Pleural Effusion: PT Treatment
- Chest tube drainage, deep breathing, segmental breathing, breath stacking
- NO CHEST SECRETION CLEARANCE - fluid is not in airways
Pulmonary Edema: Overview/Causes
- Increased fluid in extravascular spaces of the lungs
- Increased fluid in interstitial space
- Can initially occur only in interstitium and then progress to alveolar spaces
- May be due to: increased hydrostatic pressure due to heart failure or kidney failure OR increased alveolar permeability due to damage of the alveolar epithelium (drug-induced, ARDS, inhalation of noxious gas)
Pulmonary Edema: Medical Treatment
- Oxygen, MV, vasodilators, diuretics to decrease fluid overload
Pulmonary Edema: PT Treatment
- Deep breathing, breath hold/staking to allow for more O2 diffusion
- NO CHEST PT
Pulmonary Edema: S/S
- Presents as stiffer lungs
- Increased work of breathing and dyspnea
- Classic sign: cough that produced a frothy pink-tinged sputum
- Percussion: dull
- On auscultation: FINE CRACKLES, wheezing –> secretions are in the conducting (alveoli) and between alveoli (interstitial space)
- Chest X-ray: fluffy-looking white areas
Acute Lung Disease: Pneumonia: Cause
- Acute inflammation of the lungs in which some or all of the alveoli are filled with fluid or cells
- Normally airborne pathogens
- Leading cause of death from infection and 6th most common cause of death overall in Canada
- Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia has a higher mortality rate than community-acquired pneumonia
Acute Lung Disease: Pneumonia: Types
- Inhalation: bacteria, viral, fungal, toxic
- hemotogenous: occurs more often in immunosuppressed people
- aspiration: common in patients with swallowing disorders –> supine body position increase risk
Acute Lung Disease: Pneumonia: Risk Factors
- Exposure to infectious agents
- Aspiration
- Impaired consciousness
- Alcohol abuse
- Post surgery
- Very old/very young/immunosuppressed
- Most are preceded by an upper respiratory infection followed by sudden and sharp chest pain
Acute Lung Disease: Pneumonia: S/S
- Coughs up green sputum
- Dyspnea, tachypnea, pleuritic pain, fever
- Dull sounds
- Presentation: typical - sudden onset, bacterial infection most common, fever, sputum, physical signs of consolidation… atypical - walking pneumonia - few symptoms, little sputum, minimal chest signs
- Auscultation: bronchial breath sounds (due to consolidation), decreased air entry over affected lobe, may have coarse crackles
Acute Lung Disease: Pneumonia: Treatment
- Poor gas exchange: deep breathing, positioning
- Pain from coughing: splinted coughing
- Secretion retention: mobilize, coughing, huffing, ACB
- Decreased mobility: bed exercises, mobilize, upright as much as possible
- Active infection: antibacterial/antibiotics/antifungal
- Prevent: vaccine, mobility, prevent aspiration (HOB 30)
Acute Lung Disease: Atelectasis: Causes
- Collapse of normally expanded and aerated lung tissue at any structural level involving all of part of lung
1. Blockage of bronchus/bronchiole: lung is prevented from expanding due to mucous or airway obstruction
2. Compression which prevents alveoli from expanding due to pneumothorax, pleural effusion, tumour
3. Post-anesthetic effects: breathing at low lung levels
4. Poor ventilation: due to paralysis, diaphragmatic disorders, hypoventilation
Acute Lung Disease: Atelectasis: S/S
- Dyspnea, tachypnea, cyanosis
- CXR: shifting of lung structures towards collapse
- Percussion: dull
- Auscultation: decreased breath sounds, fine crackles
Acute Lung Disease: Atelectasis: Treatment
- Suctioning/secretion removal techniques if due to secretion
- Chest tube if due to pneum/hemothorax or excessive pleural effusion
- Positioning, mobility, breathing exercises
Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS): Overview
- Acute respiratory failure with severe HYPOXEMIA as a result of a pulmonary or systemic problem
- Lung injury with increased permeability of alveolar capillary membrane
- Leakages of fluid and blood into lung interstium and alveoli
Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS): Risk Factors
- Severe trauma
- Aspiration
- Embolism
- Indirect: happen with viral infection or pneumonia
Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS): S/S
- WHITE OUT on x-ray
- Increased RR
- Shallow breathing
- Severe dyspnea
- Cynosis
- Accessory muscle use
Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS): Treatment
- PEEP to keep airways open
- Tackle underlying cause
- PRONE positioning
- Intubation and ventilation assistance
- Secretion clearance if needed (manual or mechanical vibration)
Acute Respiratory Distress (ARDS): Proning
- There are more surfaces available for gas exchange posteriorly
- When in supine, the posterior parts of the lungs are compressed
- Posterior lungs are better able to contribute to gas exchange - open up closed alveoli
Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Occurs in infant whose lungs are not fully developed
- Lack surfactant (helps lungs inflate with air and keeps sacs from collapsing)
- Risks: prematurity, c-section, multiple babies, blue baby, stop breathing, grunts
- Treatment: deliver artificial surfactant
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
- Viral respiratory illness
- Unlike the flu, the patient will get pneumonia if they have SARS