AIRWAY Flashcards
a method used to predict difficult intubation. A mouth opening of less than three fingers wide, a mandible length of less than three fingers wide, and a distance from the hyoid bone to thyroid notch of less than two fingers wide indicate a possibly difficult airway.
3-2-2
abdominal thrusts performed to relieve a foreign body airway obstruction
abdominal thrust manuever
the muscles not normally used during breathing; these include the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck, the chest pectoralis major muscles, and the abdominal muscles
accessory muscles
a chemical NT of the parasympathetic nervous system
acetylcholine (ACh)
the pharyngeal tonsil
adenoid
abnormal
adventitious
the metabolism that occurs in the presence of oxygen
aerobic metabolism
the pressure gradient against which the heart must pump; increasing the after load can decrease the cardiac output
afterload
slow, shallow, irregular respirations or occasional gasping breaths; result from cerebral anoxia
agonal gasps
the amount of air that actually reaches the alveoli per minute and participates in gas exchange
alveolar minute volume (V sub A)
volume of inhaled air that participates in gas exchange; equal to tidal volume minus dead space and approx 350 mL in an average adult; also called alveolar ventilation
alveolar volume
ballonlike clusters of single layer air sacs that are the functional site for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs
alveoli
the metabolism that takes place in the absence of oxygen
anaerobic metabolism
an absence of oxygen
anoxia
the inability to speak
aphonia
prolonged gasping aspirations followed by short, ineffective expirations; associated with brainstem insult
apneustic respirations
pyramid like cartilaginous structures that form the posterior attachment of the vocal cords
arytenoid cartilages
the entry of fluids or solids into the trachea, bronchi, and lungs
aspirations
unequal movement of the two sides of the chest; indicates decreased airflow into one lung
asymmetric chest wall movement
collapse of the alveoli
atelectasis
the joint formed at the articulation of the atlas of the vertebral column and the occipital bone of the skull
atlanto occipital joint
a portable mechanical ventilator attached to a control box that allows the variables of ventilation like rate and tidal volume to be set
automatic transport ventilator (ATV)
a manual ventilation device that consists of a bag, mask, reservoir, and oxygen inlet; capable of delivering up to 100% oxygen
bag mask device
sedative hypnotic medications
barbiturates
trauma resulting from excessive pressure
barotrauma
sedative hypnotic drugs that provide muscle relaxation and mild sedation such diazepam (Valium) and midazlolam (Versed)
benzodiazepines
irregular pattern, rate, and depth of respirations with intermittent periods of apnea; result from increased intracranial pressure
Biot (ataxic) respirations
an oxygen flowmeter that is commonly used because it is not affected by gravity and can be placed in any position
Bourdan-guage flowmeter
states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume
Boyle’s law
the main branches of the trachea
bronchi
the subdivision of smaller bronchi in the lungs
bronchioles
a combination of the tracheal and vesicular breath sounds; heard where the airway and alveoli are found, in the upper part of the sternum and between the scapulas
bronchovesicular sounds
the backward, upward, rightward pressure used during intubation to improve the laryngoscopic view of the glottic opening and vocal cords
BURP manuever
potent, effective sedatives; include drugs such as haloperidol (Haldol) and droperidol (Inspine)
butyrophenones
indicates information about exhaled carbon dioxide
capnometer
hemoglobin loaded with carbon monoxide
carboxyhemoglobin
a ridgelike projection of tracheal cartilage located where the trachea bifurcates into the right and left mainstem bronchi
carina
a biochemical process resulting in the production of energy in the form of ATP
cellular respiration
CSF draining from the ears
cerebrospinal otorrhea
CSF draining from the nose
cerebrospinal rhinorrhea
chemoreceptors
sense organs that monitor the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide and the pH of the CSF and blood and provide feedback to the respiratory centers to modify the rate and depth of breathing based on the body’s needs at any given time
a gradually increasing rate and depth of respirations followed by a gradual decrease with intermittent periods of apnea
Cheyne stokes respirations
a supraglottic airway device with a shape that allows the device to slide easily along the hard palate and to hold the soft tissue away from the laryngeal inlet
Cobra perilaryngeal airway (CobraPLA)
a device that attaches between the endotracheal tube and bag mask device;
colorimetric capnographer
a multilumen airway device that consists of a single tube with two lumens, two balloons, and two ventilation ports; an alternative device if endotracheal intubation is not possible or has failed
Combitube
a method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation
CPAP
a device that measures absorption at several wavelengths to distinguish oxyhemoglobin from carboxyhemoglobin
CO-oximeter
the breath sounds produced as fluid filled alveoli pop open under increasing inspiratory pressure; can be fine or course; also called rales
crackles
forms of the lowest portion of the larynx
cricoid cartilage
a thin, superficial membrane located between the thyroid and cricoid cartilage that is relatively vascular and contains few nerves
cricothyroid membrane
a blade designed to fit into the valecula, indirectly lifting the epiglottis and exposing the vocal cords
curved laryngoscope blade
blue or purple skin
cyanosis
any portion of the airway that does not contain air and cannot participate in gas exchange
dead space volume
a drug that competitively binds with the ACh receptor sites but is not affected as quickly acetylcholinesterase; succinylcholine is the only one
depolarizing neuromuscular blocker
visualization of the airway with a laryngoscope
direct laryngoscopy
a portion of the medulla oblongata where the primary respiratory pacemaker is located
dorsal respiratory group
difficulty speaking
dysphonia
difficulty or labored breathing
dyspnea
a tube that is inserted into the trachea for definitive airway maintenance
endotracheal (ET) tube
inserting an endotracheal tube through the glottic opening and sealing the tube with a cuff inflated against the tracheal wall
endotracheal intubation
devices that detect the presence of carbon dioxide in exhaled air
end tidal CO2 monitors
a leaf shaped cartilaginous structure that closes over the trachea during swallowing
epiglottis
a bulb or syringe that is attached to the proximal end of the ET tube; a device used to confirm proper ET tube placement
esophageal detector device
a nonnarcotic, non barbiturate hypnotic sedative drug also called Amidate
etomidate
passive movement of air out of the lungs; also called expiration
exhalation
contraction of a patient’s lower eyelid when the upper eyelashes are gently stroked
eyelash reflex
the amount of air that can be exhaled following a normal exhalation; average volume is about 1200 mL
expiratory reserve volume
the exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood cells in the pulmonary capillaries
external respiration
the process of removing the tube form an intubated patient
extubation
face to face intubation
performing intubation at the same level as the patient’s face; used when the standard position is not possible. In this position, the laryngoscope is held in the provider’s right hand and the endotracheal tube in the left
brief, uncoordinated twitching of small muscle groups in the face, neck, trunk, and extremities; may be seen after the administration of a depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent
fasciculations
the percentage of oxygen in inhaled air
fraction of inspired oxygen
the amount of air that can be forced from the lungs in a single exhalation
functional reserve capacity
an automatic reaction when something touches an area deep in the oral cavity that help protects the lower airway from aspiration
gag reflex
the enlargement or expansion of the stomach, often with air; can be a complication of ventilating the esophagus instead of the trachea
gastric distension
a tube that is inserted into the stomach to remove its contents
gastric tube
the ligament between the tongue and the epiglottis
glossoepiglottic ligament
the vocal cords and the opening between them
glottis
mucus producing cells found mainly in the respiratory and intestinal tract
goblet cells
a flexible device that is inserted between the glottis under direct laryngoscopy; the ET tube is threaded over the device, facilitating its entry into the trachea
gum elastic bougie
manual airway maneuver that involves tilting the head back while lifting up in the chin
head chin tilt lift maneuver
an iron containing protein with red blood cells that has the ability to combine with oxygen
hemoglobin (Hb)
a law of gas that states that the amount of gas in a solution varies directly with the partial pressure of a gas over the solution
Henry’s Law
a protective mechanism that terminates inhalation, preventing over expansion of the lungs
Hering-Breuer reflex
the point of entry of blood vessels, nerves, and bronchi into each lung
hilum
the ligament between the hyoid bone and the epiglottis
hyoepiglottic ligament
