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NREMT® Paramedic > EMT-P (1) Airway, Respiration and Ventilation > Adult Respiratory Emergencies > Flashcards

Adult Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards

Explore the signs/symptoms and treatments of Adult Respiratory Emergencies

1
Q

What happens when the lungs fail to work?

Hint: CO2

A

Carbon dioxide (CO2) accumulates in the blood.

CO2 combines with water to form hydrogen ions.
An accumulation of hydrogen ions results in acidosis.

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2
Q

What are the causes of impaired ventilation?

A
  • upper airway obstruction: foreign body, infection, trauma.
  • lower airway obstruction: disease, mucus, edema.
  • chest wall impairment: flail chest, pneumonia, restrictive condition (Eg. scoliosis).
  • neuromuscular impairment: Lou Gehrig’s disease, overdose.
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3
Q

Define:

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

A

Progressive muscle weakness and paralysis that moves from the feet to the head.

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4
Q

Define:

Pickwickian Syndrome

A

Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome

OHS

  • Caused by obesity, chronic hypercapnia, and sleep apnea, which results in constant low levels of oxygen and high levels of carbon dioxide.
  • Do not lay the patient flat if at all possible.
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5
Q

Fill in the blank.

A serious injury to the spinal cord above _____ may block the nerve impulses that stimulate breathing.

A

c5

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6
Q

Define:

Botulism

A

It is acquired by giving infants raw honey.

Can cause muscle paralysis and ultimately hinder breathing and is very rare in typical populations.

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7
Q

What effect do alcohol, narcotics, and opiates have on the respiratory drive?

A

They reduce the respiratory drive.

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8
Q

What causes hyperventilation within the body?

A

It occurs when rapid or deep breathing lowers CO2 levels in the blood, causing respiratory alkalosis.

  • Capnography will typically reveal decreased values (< 40 mmHg) on the monitor.
  • blood pH > 7.40
  • Symptoms: peripheral numbness/tingling, dizziness, muscle spasms
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9
Q

What causes hypoventilation within the body?

A

It occurs when breathing is too shallow or slow, leading to acidosis within the blood as a result of retaining CO2.

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10
Q

What causes respiratory alkalosis?

A

It is caused by hyperventilation that results in numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, and mouth.

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11
Q

Define:

Carpopedal spasm

A

Hands and feet are clenched like a claw due to hyperventilation.

Trousseau’s Sign

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12
Q

Why breathing into a bag is bad?

A
  1. Rebreathing too much carbon dioxide can cause hypoxia.
  2. The hyperventilation may be compensatory and does not need to be fixed.
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13
Q

What causes hyperventilation?

A
  • internal or external stressors
  • psychological
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14
Q

List examples of psychological support for hyperventilation.

A
  • Breathe with the pt and count to two between breaths.
  • Talk to the pt or sing a song.
  • Reassure the pt that you are there for them.
  • Make a detailed assessment to rule out illness or injury.
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15
Q

What is the function of turbinates?

A

Trap a particulate matter within the nasal passages.

  • Network of bones, vessels, and tissue within the nasal passageways that are highly vascular and covered in mucus.
  • The large surface area allows air to be warmed and humidified.
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16
Q

What causes Angioedema?

A

ACE inhibitors and allergic reactions.

Vascular reactions that are characterized by swelling of the eyes, lips, and mouth.

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17
Q

Where is the Hypopharynx located?

A

It is where the oropharynx and nasopharynx meet.

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18
Q

Define:

Larynx

A

It protects the lower airways and is responsible for audible sounds.

Otherwise known as the “voice box”.

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19
Q

Define:

Polycythemia

A

Thick blood.

COPD patients generate a surplus of RBCs that cause strain on the right side of the heart due to the blood trying to push through tiny capillaries.

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20
Q

Define:

Cor pulmonale

A

Right-side heart failure.

Caused by chronic lung disease.

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21
Q

Give examples of restrictive lung diseases.

A
  • Kiphosis
  • Lordosis
  • Scoliosis

Limits air movement.

22
Q

What causes purulent sputum?

A

infection

23
Q

What causes a clear or white sputum?

A

Bronchitis

24
Q

What does an antitussive do?

A

Cough suppresant

Can be bad because coughing naturally clears secretions from the airway.

25
Q

Treatment

aspiration

A
  • suction
  • OG/NG tube
  • airway control
26
Q

Define:

Poiseuille’s Law

A

The diameter of a tube decreases, the resistance to flow increases exponentially.

27
Q

Define:

Laryngotracheobronchitis

A

Known as croup, inflammation of larynx, trachea, and bronchi.

28
Q

List examples of upper airway inflammation.

A
  • croup
  • epiglottitis
  • peritonsillar abscess
  • diphtheria
  • enlarged tonsils
29
Q

What is a croup?

A

Barking or seal cough caused by viral infection.

Typical for ages between 6 months to 3 years.

30
Q

What is Epiglottitis?

A

Inflammation of epiglottis.

Usually caused by an infection, sore throat, fever, hoarseness, and hyperextension of the neck.

31
Q

Define:

aspiration

A

Inhalation of anything other than air.

Causes pneumonitis and pneumonia.
Aspiration of stomach contents increases mortality significantly.

32
Q

Define:

obstructive lower airway disease

A

asthma

Increase I/E ratio to allow proper exhalation.

33
Q

Define:

pneumothorax

A

Air collects between visceral and parietal pleura.

34
Q

Define:

bleb

A

Weak spot in the lung causing spontaneous pneumothorax.

Coughing or lifting.

35
Q

Define:

pleural effusion

A

Accumulation of fluid between visceral and parietal pleura.

36
Q

Define:

pulmonary embolism

A

Blood clot in the lungs.

37
Q

What causes pulmonary embolism?

A

Embolism:

  • fat: broken bone
  • amniotic: during labor
  • air: neck laceration
38
Q

What is the Homan’s sign for high-risk PE?

A

A calf pain due to thrombophlebitis.

39
Q

Define:

cape cyanosis

A

Profuse cyanosis of the:

  • face
  • neck
  • chest
  • back

Despite good ventilation and compression.

40
Q

Define:

cystic fibrosis

A

Inherited disorder that produces copious amounts of thick mucus in the respiratory and digestive tracts.

41
Q

Define:

Pertussis

A

“Whooping cough”

42
Q

What causes blood-streaked sputum?

A
  • tumor
  • tuberculosis
  • pulmonary edema
  • trauma
  • excessive coughing
43
Q

What causes pink-frothy sputum

A

Congestive heart failure.

44
Q

What three things occur during an asthma attack?

A
  • Bronchospasm
  • Bronchial edema
  • Increased mucus production.
45
Q

Treatment

Asthma

A
  • Albuterol: aerosol bronchodilators
  • Atrovent: mucolytics
  • Methylprednisolone: corticosteroids
46
Q

Define:

Chronic Bronchitis

A

Excessive mucus production and a chronic productive cough.

47
Q

Name some assessment findings of COPD.

A
  • lung sounds: wheezing
  • HR: tachycaridic
  • RR: increased
  • EtCO2: shark-fin; increased
48
Q

Treatment

COPD

A
  • oxygen
  • Albuterol/Atrovent
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Terbutaline
  • Magnesium sulfate
  • CPAP, if needed
49
Q

Define:

spacer

A

An attachment for the MDI that increased the amount of medication delivered.

50
Q

Name some assessment findings of pulmonary edema.

A
  • lung sounds: crackles/rhonchi
  • hypertension
  • shortness of breath
  • excessive mucus and cough
51
Q

Treatment

pulmonary edema

A
  • CPAP
  • vasodialators (if indicated)
  • oxygen
  • diuretics

Atrovent/Albuterol if wheezing is present.
The treatment focuses on forcing the fluid back into the vessels and opening them so that fluid can be pushed back in.

52
Q

Name some assessment findings of pulmonary embolism.

A
  • sudden shortness of breath
  • Cape Cyanosis
  • chest pain
  • Unresolved cyanosis with oxygen therapy.

EMT-P (1) Airway, Respiration and Ventilation (7 decks)

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