Ch. 16 Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
Acidosis
The buildup of exess acid in the blood or body tissues that can result from a primary illness.
Adventitious breath sounds
Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing, ronchi, and crackles (rales).
Alkalosis
The buildup of exess base (lack of acids) in body fluids.
Allergen
A substance that causes an allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis
An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.
Asthma
An acute spasm of the smaller air passages, called bronchioles, associated with exessive mucus production and with swelling of the mucous lining of the respiratory passages.
Atelactasis
Collapse of alveolar air spaces of the lungs.
Bronchial breath sounds
Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi.
Bronchiolitis
An acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, and depending on its cause, sometimes fever.
Carbon dioxide retention
A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levals of carbon dioxide.
Carbon monoxide
An odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly poisonous gas that results from the incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion.
Chronic bronchitis
Irritation of the major lung passageways from long-term exposure to infectious disease or irritants such as smoke.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
A lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatmet of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation
COVID-19
A resipratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus is a coronavirus, similar to the one that causes the common cold.
Crackles
Crackling, rattling breath sounds that signal fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.
Croup
A viral inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a parking cough; usually seen in children.
Diptheria
An infectious disease in which a pseudomembrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath.
Embolus
A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage of bloodflow.
Emphysema
A sisease of the lungs in which ther is extreme dilation and eventual destruction of the pulmonary alveoli with poor exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide; it is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Epiglottitis
A bacterial infection in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction.
Hay fever
An allergic response, usually to outdoor airborne allergens such as pollen or sometimes indoor allergens such as dust mites or pet dander; also called allergic rhinitis.
Hyperventilation
Rapid, usually deep, breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal.
Hyperventilation syndrome
This syndrome occurs in the absence of physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or as low as 20 very deep breaths/min. This syndrome is often associated with panic attacks.
Hypoxia
A dangerous condition in which the body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen.
Hypoxic drive
A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in patients with chronic lung diseases.
Influenza type A
Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching pandemic level with the H1N1 strain.
Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)
A miniature spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs.
Orthopnea
Severe dyspnea experienced when lying down and relieved by sitting up.
Oxygenation
The process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following inhalation into the lungs.
Pandemic
An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.
Parosysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Severe shortness of breath, especially at night after several hours of reclining; the person is foced to sit up to breathe.
Pertussis (whooping cough)
An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a “whoop” sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.
Pleural effusion
A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung.
Pleuritic chest pain
Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that is worsened by a deep breath ro other chest wall movement; often caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura.
Pneumonia
An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.
Pneumothorax
An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.
Pulmonary edema
A buildup of the fluid in the lungs, often as a result of congestive heart failure.
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.
Respiration
The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Respiratory cyncytial virus (RSV)
A virus that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses tht affect the lungs or heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV is highly contagious and spreads through droplets.
Ronchi
Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.
Small-volume nebulizer
A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine that is turned into a fin mist. The patient inhalses the medication into the airways and lungs as a treatment for conditions such as asthma.
Stridor
A harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without a stethoscope.
Tuberculosis (TB)
A contagious disease that attacks the lungs and that can remain dormant in a persons lungs for decades, then reactivate; many strains are resistant to antibiotics. TB is spread by cough.
Ventilation
The exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT.
Vesicular breath sounds
Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli
Wheezing
A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.
