Approach To The Dyspnec Patient Flashcards
Are there any circumstances in which respiratory distress is not an emergency?
No
What are some quick diagnostic tests you can run for a dypsneic patient assuming they are stable enough?
FAST ultrasound
Thoracic rads
Pulse ox
ABG
Example sentence: The veterinarian performed a FAST ultrasound on the dypsneic patient.
What is the main etiology of dypsnea that supplemental O2 will not be effective for Tx?
Pleural space disease (pneumothorax or pleural effusion)
What are some methods that can be used to supplement O2?
Flow by
Face mask
O2 cage
Nasal O2 cannula
Intubation and PPV
What kind of O2 supplementation method is somewhere between a mask and intubation?
High flow nasal oxygen
Will an O2 mask help with V/Q mismatch?
No
What is a method of O2 supplementation that can provide PEEP and help with V/Q mismatch but does not require intubation?
High flow nasal oxygen
What are some causes of dypsnea that are the result of damage to the lung parenchyma and difficulty with gas exchange?
Diffusion impairment due to edema (CPE, NCPE)
Pulmonary hypertension
Neoplasia
Pulmonary hemorrhage
What are some diseases that can help you localize the cause of dypsnea to UPPER airway obstruction?
BAOS
Laryngeal paralysis
Tracheal collapse
What are some diseases that can help you localize the cause of dypsnea to LOWER airway diseases?
Cats—> asthma, CB, parasites
Dogs—> CB, parasites, eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy
What are examples of pleural space diseases that can lead to dypsnea?
Pneumothorax
Pyothorax
Hemothorax
Chylothorax
R CHF (and left in cats)
diphragmatic hernia
What are some common causes of Pulmonary Parenchymal Disease that can result in dypsnea?
NCPE
Pneumonia
Interstitial lung disease
Pulmonary hemorrhage
Pulmonary contusions
Neoplasia (primary vs metastatic)
Volume overload ( fluids or transfusion—> TACO)
If a dypsneic patient seems like they are at risk of imminent respiratory failure, you need to
Intubate and PPV
What is the adjusted range of FiO2 when using high flow nasal oxygen?
21%- 100%
What does CPAP stand for and what is it used in?
Continuous positive airway pressure used in high flow nasal oxygen
