BLOCK 6: RESPIRATORY EMERGENCIES Flashcards
who first described pneumonia
Hippocrates in 400BCE
what is one of the most common fatal illnesses in developing countries
pneumonia
intrinsic respiratory disease factors
genetics, cardiac disease, stress
extrinsic respiratory disease factors
smoking, environmental pollutants
what airway structure acts as a pathway for air exchange
trachea
American College of Chest Physicians recommend transition to tracheostomy by ___
3 weeks
where does the tracheal cartilage bifurcate
carina
where is the carina located
5th intercostal space
where do ET tubes advanced too far and aspirated foreign bodies usually go and why
right main stem bronchus because it branches at a less acute angle than the left
all airways that do not participate in gas exchange represent what
dead space
where is gas transfer most efficient
alveoli
what structures make up the lung parenchyma
terminal bronchioles and alveoli
bronchodilator medications have little effect below the ____
subsegmental level
which number branches are the terminal bronchioles
16-24
what is the area in the middle of the chest between the lungs with the heart and large blood vessels called
mediastinum
what is pneumomediastinum
mediastinum widening with blood from a ruptured aorta or trapping air from a traumatic injury
which part of the lung has a greater number of capillaries and therefore has more gas exchange
the bases have more than the apices
what happens to the blood in patients with chronic lung disease or hypoxia
generate surplus of RBCs making their blood thick
what happens to the blood in patients with polycythemia
viscous blood
what is cor pulmonale
right-sided heart failure that occurs because of chronic lung disease
which patients have an impaired ability to transport oxygen and CO2
anemic (low hemoglobin level) and hypovolemic
which sided heart failure progresses much faster than the other
left-sided is faster (AMI)
the right side of the heart does what? the left side?
right side: pumps blood to lungs
left side: receives blood from lungs and pumps to body
what is the body’s immediate response to mild hypoxemia vs severe hypoxia
mild: increased HR/tachycardia
severe: bradycardia
what is the amount of air moved each minute called
minute ventilation
kidneys receive approximately how much of cardiac output
25%
3 conditions that cause upper airway obstruction
foreign body obstruction, infection, trauma
4 conditions that cause lower airway obstruction
trauma, obstructive disease, increased mucus production, airway swelling
4 conditions that cause chest wall impairment
pneumothorax, flail chest, pleural effusion, restrictive disease (scoliosis, kyphosis)
what is pH
how many free hydrogen ions are present in a solution
patients who are hypoventilating usually have what
respiratory acidosis
as CO2 levels go up, what happens to pH level
drops
how to measure oxygenation
how to measure ventilation
pulse oximetry (oxygen to tissues)
capnography (eliminating CO2 from body)
what groups of conditions cause patients to hypoventilate
conditions that impair lung function, impair mechanics of breathing, impair neuromuscular apparatus, and reduce respiratory drive
what is obesity hypoventilation syndrome and what is it also known as
respiratory compromise caused by morbid obesity
Pickwickian syndrome
serious injury to spinal cord above which vertebra may block nerve impulses to stimulate breathing
above C5
which nerve controls the diaphragm and breathing
phrenic nerve
what is Guillain-Barre syndrome
progressive muscle weakness and paralysis starting from feet and moving up body, can lead to ineffective breathing if paralysis reaches diaphragm
what is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as and what is it
(ALS) Lou Gehrig disease
causes progressive muscle weakness, causes death from respiratory failure as muscles lose strength to ventilate
what is botulism
food poisoning or giving infants raw honey which may be contaminated with spores of bacterium that can cause muscle paralysis and is fatal when it reaches respiratory muscles
respiratory drive vs hypoxic drive
respiratory: stimulated by chemoreceptors detecting increased CO2
hypoxic: stimulates breathing from low oxygen levels
hypoventilation crisis most commonly seen by medics is what
acute heroin OD
what is the result of hyperventilation
alkalosis (increased pH) and low CO2 levels
what is breathing off more CO2 than normal triggered by emotional distress or a panic attack called
hysterical ventilation or hyperventilation syndrome
hyperventilation not caused by some metabolic crisis is usually what
self-limiting
what does respiratory alkalosis result in
numbness/tingling in hands/feet and mouth, ultimately carpopedal spasm
what is carpopedal spasm
hands and feet become clenched into a claw-like position from hyperventilating
what should NOT be done for hyperventilating patients
rebreathing carbon dioxide
how does the body attempt to compensate for acidosis
hyperventilation or Kussmaul respirations
hyperventilation is a diagnosis of ___, meaning what
exclusion, cannot presume hyperventilation syndrome until all other medical causes have been ruled out
wear a gown if patient is suspected of having what
MRSA (transmitted in their sputum)
most common complaint of patients with respiratory disease
dyspnea
the most common cause of dyspnea
hypercapnia
what is hypercapnia
too much CO2 in the blood
what is paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
dyspnea that comes on suddenly in middle of night and is an ominous sign of left-side heart failure
immunity by the pertussis vax lasts how long
5-10 years
what is the classic presentation of a patient with emphysema
barrel chest, muscle wasting, pursed-lip breathing, tachypneic
typically do not present with profound hypoxia and cyanosis
tall, thin young adults are predisposed to what
spontaneous pneumothorax
women who smoke and take oral contraceptives are predisposed to what
pulmonary embolus
patients with chronic bronchitis usually present how
in a chair or recliner sleeping in an upright position with a lot of things they need around them (urinal, meds, cigs)
what is Hickam’s advice
patients can have as many disease as they damn well please
increased work of breathing or hypoxia can trigger a sympathetic nervous system response which is characterized by what
tachycardia, diaphoresis, and pallor
what movement is an ominous sign of imminent decompensation
head bobbing
after intubation, true capno reading comes after the ___ breath
sixth
what patients usually get bony retractions with accessory muscle breathing
infants and small children
what patients usually get soft-tissue retractions with accessory muscle breathing
adults
what is pulsus paradoxus and in what conditions is it usually seen in
increased intrathoracic pressure can make peripheral pulse weak during inspiration
seen with cardiac tamponade and severe asthma
what are bony retractions
sternum or ribs retract into the chest during inhalation
what are soft-tissue retractions
soft tissue drawn in around bones during inhalation
what is tracheal tugging
thyroid cartilage is drawn upward and area just above sternal notch is pulled in during inhalation
what is paradoxical respiratory movement
epigastrium is pulled in as the abdomen is pushed out, creating a seesaw effect as the two move in opposite directions during inhalation
why do respiratory patients grunt
exerts a small amount of pressure that helps keep the alveoli open
what is the formula for minute volume
respiratory rate x tidal volume
many pathologic conditions are dependent on what meaning what
gravity, meaning most affect lung basees
wheezing is typically distributed how
diffuse and spread throughout lung fields
wheezing confined to only one spot may indicate what
foreign body or tumor
where to listen to the base of the lungs and the apex of the lungs
base: back
apex: anterior chest
best place to listen to confirm ET tube placement
mixaxillary line