Ch. 16 Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

Acidosis

Answer 1

The buildup of exess acid in the blood or body tissues that can result from a primary illness.

Question 2

Adventitious breath sounds

Answer 2

Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing, ronchi, and crackles (rales).

Question 3

Alkalosis

Answer 3

The buildup of exess base (lack of acids) in body fluids.

Question 4

Allergen

Answer 4

A substance that causes an allergic reaction.

Question 5

Anaphylaxis

Answer 5

An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.

Question 6

Asthma

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Atelactasis

Answer 7

Collapse of alveolar air spaces of the lungs.

Question 8

Bronchial breath sounds

Answer 8

Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi.

Question 9

Bronchiolitis

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Carbon dioxide retention

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Carbon monoxide

Answer 11

An odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly poisonous gas that results from the incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion.

Question 12

Chronic bronchitis

Answer 12

Irritation of the major lung passageways from long-term exposure to infectious disease or irritants such as smoke.

Question 13

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Answer 13

A lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible.

Question 14

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Answer 14

A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatmet of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation

Question 15

COVID-19

Answer 15

A resipratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus is a coronavirus, similar to the one that causes the common cold.

Question 16

Crackles

Answer 16

Crackling, rattling breath sounds that signal fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.

Question 17

Croup

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Diptheria

Answer 18

An infectious disease in which a pseudomembrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx.

Question 19

Dyspnea

Answer 19

Shortness of breath.

Question 20

Embolus

Answer 20

A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage of bloodflow.

Question 21

Emphysema

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Epiglottitis

Answer 22

A bacterial infection in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction.

Question 23

Hay fever

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

Hyperventilation

Answer 24

Rapid, usually deep, breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal.

Question 25

Hyperventilation syndrome

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Hypoxia

Answer 26

A dangerous condition in which the body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen.

Question 27

Hypoxic drive

Answer 27

A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in patients with chronic lung diseases.

Question 28

Influenza type A

Answer 28

Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching pandemic level with the H1N1 strain.

Question 29

Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Answer 29

A miniature spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs.

Question 30

Orthopnea

Answer 30

Severe dyspnea experienced when lying down and relieved by sitting up.

Question 31

Oxygenation

Answer 31

The process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following inhalation into the lungs.

Question 32

Pandemic

Answer 32

An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.

Question 33

Parosysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Answer 33

Severe shortness of breath, especially at night after several hours of reclining; the person is foced to sit up to breathe.

Question 34

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Answer 34

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.

Question 35

Pleural effusion

Answer 35

A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung.

Question 36

Pleuritic chest pain

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Pneumonia

Answer 37

An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.

Question 38

Pneumothorax

Answer 38

An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Question 39

Pulmonary edema

Answer 39

A buildup of the fluid in the lungs, often as a result of congestive heart failure.

Question 40

Pulmonary embolism

Answer 40

A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.

Question 41

Respiration

Answer 41

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 42

Respiratory cyncytial virus (RSV)

Answer 42

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.

Question 43

Ronchi

Answer 43

Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.

Question 44

Small-volume nebulizer

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

Stridor

Answer 45

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.

Question 46

Tuberculosis (TB)

Answer 46

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.

Question 47

Ventilation

Answer 47

The exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT.

Question 48

Vesicular breath sounds

Answer 48

Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli

Question 49

Wheezing

Answer 49

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.