Breathing Assessment and Oxygen Therapy Flashcards
Signs of respiratory distress?
o Use of accessory muscles: pectorals, SCM, abdominal muscles, intercostal indrawing o Tripoding o Sweating o Colour: pale, blue o Pursed lips: prevents atelectasis o Short sentences/not talking o Confusion/drowsiness
How would respiratory rate be affected when patient is unwell
o Normal respiratory pattern
o Inspiratory Expiratory ratio should be 1:2
o When patients are unwell they prolong their expiratory time to enable gas exchange
When would depth of breathing be affected?
o Hypo/Hyperventilating
o May be reduced if they’re in pain, have an effusion/pneumothorax
Causes of chest deformity?
o Barrel chest (COPD)
o Pectus Excavatum: in drawing of the sternum in chronic lung disease
o Pectus Carinatum: protrusion of the sternum
o Kyphoscoliosis
Causes of raised JVP?
o HF, cardiac tamponade, tension pneumothorax
Causes of abdominal distension?
o Fluid – ascites can cause SOB, pressure from abdomen makes it difficult to breathe
o Fat
o Flatus
o Foetus
Normal target oxygen sats?
94-98%
Target oxygen sats for people at risk of type 2 resp failure
88-92%
When should you reduce oxygen?
stable patients with satisfactory oxygen saturations
