Ch. 3 Respiratory Flashcards
What is hyperventilation?
Increased respiratory rate causing respiratory alkalosis. (over oxygenation)
What can cause hyperventilation?
- Anxiety
- pain
- cold water immersion
- voluntary
Sign and symptoms of hyperventilation?
- Sensation of suffocation
- Dizziness
- tingling and numbness in hand feet and face.
- Rapid H.R and R.R
- Carpopedal spasms
- Chest pain
- possible lost of responsiveness and transient respiratory arrest
Treatment Principles Hyperventilation
- Calm the patient be direct and reassuring
- assist the patient to slow their breathing
- Evacuate if unable to slow patients breathing rate
What is a pulmonary embolism?
A blood clot that is blocking a pulmonary artery.
Sign and symptoms of a pulmonary embolism.
- sudden onset of sharp chest pain
- respiratory distress
- cough and possibly bloody sputum
- shock vital signs possible
- History of prolonged bedrest, altitude, smoking, recent surgery long plane flights, recent long bole factor and birth control pills.
Treatment principles of a pulmonary embolism
- Administer oxygen if available
2. Rapid evac in position of comfort
What in pneumonia?
Inflammation and fluid accumulation in the alveolar spaces in the lungs.
Sign and symptoms of Pneumonia
- often a history of upper respiratory infection
- fever sweating and possible chills
- Productive cough with various colors of sputum
- Pain on inspiration or coughing
- Shortness of breath
- wet lung sounds and or diminish breath sounds.
- Malaise and fatigue
Treatment principles of pneumonia
- encourage to cough and breathe deeply
- administer fever reducing medication
- Administer oxygen if available
- evacuate if evacuation is lengthy consider antibiotics
What is Asthma
Asthma is an active air way disease characterized by constricted bronchi increased mucus production and bronchial edema.
Sign and symptoms of mild/moderate asthma
- Chest tightness
- wheezing and coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Increased R.R and H.R
- Increased mucus production
- Fatigue
Sign and symptoms of severe Asthma
- Shortness of breath at rest
- use of accessory muscles to breath
- Decreasing breath sounds progressing to absence of wheezing
- speaking on one or two word clusters
- Sleepiness
- Cyanosis
Treatment principles of an Asthma attack
- Calm the patient
- Mild maybe coached into normal breathing
- Begin treatment promptly
- If patient has a Asthma treatment plan support them to follow this plan, administration of inhaler to puff every 4 hours and as needed.
- Acute episodes may require a more aggressive treatment may require 4-8 puffs every 20 minutes for up to four hours
- in a clear environment factor is present change the environment.
- Hydration and rest, warm humidified if available
- patient may have oral steroid, these can be administered if unresponsive to inhaler, a patient nor responding to normal medications may need epinephrine contact medical prior to administering.
Evacuation guide lines for Asthma
- Any patient whose medication is not working and increases frequency or duration of attacks.
- Rapid evac with sign and symptoms of severe attack
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