Ch. 22, 24, 25, 26 Flashcards
COPD stands for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- it is an umbrella term
COPD encompasses
- chronic bronchitis (airway problem)
- pulmonary emphysema (alveolar problem)
^neither get better, can halt progression but cannot repair or turn it around once the damage has started
- tissue damage is not reversible, increases in severity, eventually leads to respiratory failure
emphysema
- alveolar membranes (grape-like clusters, where gas exchange occurs) breakdown
- loss of lung elasticity and hyperinflation of the lung- get smoother, decreases surface area to have gas exchange, stiff- air-trapping
- typically from smoking, pollution, irritants in the airway
chronic bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles caused by chronic exposure to tobacco smoking, irritants to airway, pollution
- inflammation, vasodilation, congestion, mucosal edema, bronchospasm
- production of large amounts of thick mucous (when coughing)
- SOB, fatigue, coughing- bringing up phlegm**
air-trapping
caused by loss of elastic recoil in the alveolar walls, overstretching and enlargement of the alveoli into bullae, and collapse of small airways (bronchioles)
- occurs with emphysema patients
pursed lip breathing
emphysema patients classic presentation
- increases pressure in chest/abs
- increases pressure to push air trapped in alveoli into the lungs
complications of COPD
- hypoxemia/ tissue anoxia- not good gas exchange = not good enough oxygen in bloodstream to perfuse the tissues
- tired, fatigued, achey legs
- acidosis b/c patients are retaining CO2 (seen in ABGs, < 7.35)
- respiratory infections b/c of mucous containing bacteria
- cardiac failure, especially cor pulmonale- R side of heart pumps to lungs-stiff, now R side of heart is working hard=floppy muscle and R-sided HF
- cardiac dysrhythmias- PVCs
COPD clinical manifestations
- history- hx of smoking (past/current), SOB, difficulty on exertion, chronic cough w/ mucous (bronchitis)
- general appearance: barrel chest (emphysema), nail clubbing: bulbed fingernails
- respiratory changes: SOB, esp w/ exertion
- cardiac changes
dyspnea assessment guide
indicates the amount of SOB you are having at this time by marking the line; basically a pain scale but for SOB
0- no shortness of breath
10- shortness of breath as bad as can be
general s/sx of COPD
- prolonged expiratory time- longer breathing out time to push air that is trapped out of lungs
- easily fatigued
- frequent respiratory infections
- use of accessory muscles to breathe
- orthopneic
- cor pormonale (late in disease)
- wheezing
- pursed-lip breathing
- dyspnea
- digital clubbing
- anxious
s/sx specific to emphysema
- barrel chest
- thin in appearance
- pursed-lip breathing
- pink skin (hyperventilate to compensate)
- CO2 retention
- minimal cyanosis
- talking in short/couple words/sentences
- hyperresonance on chest percussion
s/sx specific to bronchitis
- chronic cough w/ increased sputum production
- dusky, cyanotic skin color
- resp acidosis
- will need to be on O2
- cor pormonale
- clubbing of fingers
- increased RR, Hbg
- hypercapnia (increased pCO2)
- leads to R-sided HF
pink puffer is
emphysema
blue boater is
chronic bronchitis
COPD laboratory assessments
- ABG values for abnormal oxygenation, ventilation, and acid-base status (these hurt, usually radial artery- stay with patient, ensure that they are okay)
- sputum samples
- CBC (elevated WBC=infection)
- H&H blood tests (Hbg & Hct)
- serum electrolyte levels (not eating right because of difficulty to breathe)
- serum AAT level
- chest x-ray
- pulmonary function test (PFTs)
COPD assessment: chest x-ray will show
can show effusion, PNA, opacity in lungs, cardiac enlargement
COPD assessment: PFT
patient blows into “pipe” and PF reads on graph
(encourage patient to blow hard)
why get a serum AAT level with a COPD patient?
AAT is a protein that we have in our body that protects the lungs from enzymes (coats them)
- some people have congenital lack of AAT, so they are more prone to COPD
COPD patient problems: how is the patient impacted by COPD?
- decreased gas exchange
- weight loss
- anxiety (d/t SOB, chronic illness)
- decreased endurance
- potential for PNA: avoid large crowds, PNA vaccine, yearly influenza vaccine
*think ABCs first, then psychosocial
nursing management for COPD
- no smoking!
- airway management: deep breathing, purse-lip breathing
- cough enhancement: how to cough
- drug therapy
- oxygen therapy: at home oxygen, teaching
- positioning/breathing techniques- no lying flat
- pulmonary rehab: exercise on monitors to increase endurance level baseline
COPD drug therapy
corticosteroids (help inflammation in respiratory tract, increases space to allow better airflow)
- fluticasone
- prednisone
- inhaled steroid and long-acting dilator: Advair (wash mouth out! ,not a rescue)
mucolytics
- acetylcysteine (Mucomyst/Mucinex)
- guaifenesin: thins mucous
short-acting beta agonist
- albuterol (Ventolin): rescue med
long-acting beta agonist
- salmeterol (Serevent)
cholinergic antagonist
- ipratropium (Atrovent)
- tiotropium (Spiriva)
rescue medication for COPD
short-acting beta agonist
- albuterol (Ventolin)
COPD med: long-acting beta agonist
Salmeterol (Serevent)
COPD evaluation of (ideal) outcomes
- attain and maintain gas exchange at a level within his/her chronic baseline values
- achieve an effective breathing pattern that decreases the work of breathing
- maintain a patent airway
- achieve and maintain a body weight within 10% of his or her ideal weight
- have decreased anxiety
- increase activity to a level acceptable to him or her
- avoid serious respiratory infections (crowds, grandkids with illnesses)
- patient may need/be on palliative or hospice care- decrease anxiety and improve quality of life
- med compliant
- nutritional regimen
- include patient and family in plan of care