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EMT Knowledge > Chapter 13: Respiratory Emergencies > Flashcards

Chapter 13: Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards

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1
Q

Define

Dyspnea

A

Shortness of breath (SOB) or difficulty breathing

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2
Q

Define

Respiration

A

Exchange of oxygen and CO2

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3
Q

Define

CO2 retention

A

Chronically high blood CO2 –> respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of CO2. From impaired exhalation or producing too much.

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4
Q

Define

Acidosis

A

Buildup of excess acid in the blood or tissues resulting from primary illness

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5
Q

Define

Adventitious breath sounds

A

Abnormal breath sounds: wheezing, rhonchi, rales

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6
Q

Define

Alkalosis

A

Build of of base in body fluids

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7
Q

Define

Anaphylaxis

A

Systemic allergic reaction, possibly including shock and respiratory failure. Usually within 30 minutes of exposure to allergen.

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8
Q

Define

Asthma

A

Acute spasm of bronchioles, associated with excess mucus production and swelling of mucous lining.

Ask: have you been hospitalized for this before?

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9
Q

Define

Atelectasis

A

Collapse of alveolar spaces

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10
Q

Define

Bronchial breath sounds

A

Normal sounds of air moving through bronchi

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11
Q

Define

Bronchiolitis

A

Inflammation of bronchioles usually in children <2 yo, often caused by respiratory syncytial virus

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12
Q

Define

Bronchitis

A
  • Acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage tissue
  • associated with cough and production of sputum
  • sometimes fever depending on cause
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13
Q

Define

Chronic bronchitis

A

Irritation of major lung passageways from infectious disease or smoke

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14
Q

Define

COPD

A

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Slow process of dilation and disruption of airways and alveoli cuased by chronic bronchial obstruction

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15
Q

Define

Common cold

A

Viral infection. Swollen nasal mucous membranes and production of fluid in sinuses and nose

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16
Q

Define

Croup

A
  • Inflammatory disease of upper respiratory system
  • may cause partial airway obstruction
  • characterized by barking cough and stridor.
  • Usually in children.
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17
Q

Define

Diphtheria

A

Infectious disease in which a membrane forms, lining the pharynx. It can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx.

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18
Q

Define

Embolus

A

Blood clot or other substance in circulatory system that can cause blockage

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19
Q

Define

Emphysema

A

Disease of lungs with extreme dilation and eventual destruction of pulmonary alveoli. Loss of elastic material around alveoli because inflamed airways prevent easy exhalation. Poor gas exchange. One form of COPD. Beware of suppressing hypoxic drive with O2.

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20
Q

Define

Hay fever

A

Allergic response usually to outdoor airborne allergens. Also called allergic rhinitis.

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21
Q

Define

Hyperventilation

A

Rapid/deep breathing that causes blood alkalosis. Verbally instruct pt to slow their breathing, give supplemental O2. Moral support.

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22
Q

Define

Hyperventilation syndrome

A

Occurs in absence of physical problems. RR as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or low as 20 deep breaths/min

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23
Q

Define

Hypoxia

A

Not enough oxygen in body’s cells

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24
Q

Describe

Hypoxic drive

A

Backup system to control respirations when oxygen levels fall. In pt’s with no CO2 reflex, giving too much O2 can depress breathing. Unless the pt is unconcious, use low flow and slowly adjust higher until symptoms improve. Shaun says: ALWAYS GIVE O2

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25
Q

Define

Influenza type A

A

Crossed animal/human barrier. H1N1 is a strain.

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26
Q

Define

MDI

A

Metered dose inhaler. Spray can used to direct meds though mouth into lungs

27
Q

Define

Oxygenation

A

Process of delivering O2 to blood

28
Q

Define

Pandemic

A

Outbreak that occurs on global scale

29
Q

Define

Pleural effusion

A

Collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress lung. Response to irritation, infection, CHF, or cancer. Dyspnea typically comes on suddenly.

30
Q

Define

Pleuritic chest pain

A

Sharp stabbing pain in the chest worsened by deep breath or other chest wal movement, often caused by inflammation of irritation of the pleura

31
Q

Define

Pneumonia

A

Infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue. Often associated with immune system compromise.

32
Q

Define

Pneumonitis

A

Inflammation of the lung

33
Q

Define

Pneumothorax

A

Partial or complete accumulation of air in pleural space

34
Q

Define

Pulmonary edema

A

Buildup of fluid in the lungs, usually a result of CHF

35
Q

Define

Pulmonary embolism

A

Blood clot that breaks off from large vein and lodges in lung, cutting of blood flow.

S/S: dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis, cyanosis, tacypnea, hypoxia. May cause cardiac arrest

36
Q

Define

Rales

A

Crackling, rattling breath sounds signaling fluid in the alveoli

37
Q

Define

RSV

A

Respiratory syncytial virus.

  • Virus that causes lung/passages infection.
  • Can lead to other illnesses, like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
  • Highly contagious
  • spread through droplets.
  • Infants with RSV often refuse fluids and get dehydrated.
38
Q

Define

Rhonchi

A

Coarse breath sounds heard in pt’s with chronic mucus in airways.

39
Q

Define

Small volume nebulizer

A

Device that turns liquid medicine into mist for inhalation. Treats stuff like asthma.

40
Q

Define

Stridor

A

A harsh, high pitched, barking inspiratory sound often heard in acute laryngeal obstruction.

41
Q

Define

Vesicular breath sounds

A

Normal breath sounds from alveoli

42
Q

Define

Wheezing

A

High pitched, whistling breath sound, usually on expiration, in pt’s with asthma or COPD

43
Q

Discuss

List possible problems with lungs (actual physical problems that can arise from diseases)

A
  • Gas exchange in alveoli hindered by fluid, infection, or collapsed alveoli (atelectasis)
  • Alveolar wall itself damaged, interrupting gas exchange
  • Air passages obstructed (muscle spasm, mucus, floppy wall)
  • Blood flow obstructed by clots
  • Filled pleural space inhibits expansion
44
Q

Discuss

Define

Epliglottitis

A

Disease in which epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged. May cause upper airway obstruction. DO NOT SUCTION AIRWAYS WITH EPIGLOTTITIS (could cause more swelling and result in complete airway obstruction).

45
Q

Discuss

Acute pulmonary edema

A
  • Fluid buildup in lung.
  • laying pt down will kill him (orthopnea)
  • Often from CHF (look for telltale hypertension)
  • Ask: how many pillows do you sleep with?
46
Q

Discuss

Wet lung sounds vs. dry lung sounds

A

Wet lung sounds: often pulmonary edema. Dry lung sounds: often COPD. Not always.

47
Q

Discuss

Spontaneous pneumothorax

A

Pt’s with emphysema or asthma are at higher risk, often during severe coughing. Sometimes in tall skinny people.

48
Q

Discuss

Status epilepticus

A

Prolonged seizure. Seizures every few minutes without regaining consciousness or seizure lasting longer than 30 minutes could be life threatening. Pt needs meds to stop seizure and manage airway. NEEDS ALS OR HOSPITAL

49
Q

Discuss

Carbon monoxide poisoning

A

Pt may think they have the flu: headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting

50
Q

Discuss

How to perform focused breathing assessment

A

PASTE

  • P: Progression
  • A: Associated chest pain
  • S: Sputum
  • T: Talking tiredness
  • E: Exercise tolerance
51
Q

Discuss

Cystic fibrosis

A

Body’s salt/water balance messed up, so mucus becomes thicker and more difficult to move, causing frequent infection in lungs.

52
Q

Discuss

CPAP

A

Continuous positive airway pressure device. Indications: moderate to severe resp distress from pulmonary edema or COPD, able to follow commands, RR >26 or pulse ox <90%. Contraindication: low BP, resp arrest, s/s of pneumothorax or chest injury, tracheostomy, decreased LOC, gastrointestinal bleeding.

53
Q

S/S

Asthma

A

Wheezing, bronchospasm

54
Q

S/S

Anaphylaxis

A

Flushed skin, urticaria (hives), generalized edema, low BP, laryngeal edema

55
Q

S/S

Bronchitis

A

Chronic cough, wheezing, cyanosis, productive cough

56
Q

S/S

CHF

A
  • Dependent edema,
  • rales
  • paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (waking up because of dyspnea, often relieved by sitting upright)
57
Q

S/S

Croup

A
  • Fever,
  • barking cough,
  • pediatric pt
58
Q

S/S

Emphysema

A

Barrel chest, pursed lip breathing, dyspnea on exertion

59
Q

S/S

Pneumonia

A
  • Dyspnea
  • chills and fever
  • cough
  • dark sputum
60
Q

S/S

Pneumothorax

A

Sudden chest pain w dyspnea, unilateral decreased lung sounds

61
Q

S/S

Pulmonary embolism

A

Sharp pinpoint pain, dyspnea, sudden onset, after surgery or childbirth

62
Q

S/S

Tension pneumothorax

A

Progressive SOB, decreasing LOC, JVD, tracheal deviation

63
Q

S/S

Pertussis

A
  • Coughing spells,
  • whooping sounds,
  • fever,
  • pediatric pt’s
64
Q

Discuss

What’s a key question to ask an asthma pt?

A

Have you ever been hospitalized for this before?

EMT Knowledge (22 decks)

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