Breathing problems

Question 1

What are the 5 categories of respiratory drive depression?

Answer 1

head injury
cerebral disease
hypercapnia
depressant effect of metabolic disorder (inc. DM) 
drugs (loss of reflexes and airway tone)

Question 2

What are the 5 categories of reduced respiratory effort?

Answer 2

diaphragm (C-spine trauma/lesion) & intercostals (spinal cord lesion)
muscle weakness or nerve damage (GB, MS, MG etc - CNS lesions)
chronic malnourishment
severe long term illness
Chest wall abnormalities - scoliosis, fractures

Question 3

What are the common causes of reduced lung function? (Not nerves or chest - LUNG)

Answer 3

pneumothorax
haemothorax
infection
aspiration
IECOPD
asthma
PE
lung contusion
ARDS
pulmonary oedema

Question 4

What are the components of effective breathing?

Answer 4

Respiratory drive - CNS
Respiratory effort - Muscles, PNS, chest wall
Lungs - Airways, gas exchange interface, vasculature

Question 5

What interventions can be done for breathing causes of arrest?

Answer 5

Oxygen high flow
Early thoracocentesis or thoracostomy+chest drain
NIV, then intubation+ventilation