Chapter 13 Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

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

Answer 1

pleural effusion

Question 2

Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.

Answer 2

bronchiolitis

Question 3

A substance that causes an allergic reaction.

Answer 3

allergen

Question 4

A slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction.

Answer 4

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Question 5

This syndrome occurs in the absence of other physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing this syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or as low as only 20 very deep breaths/min.

Answer 5

hyperventilation syndrome (panic attack)

Question 6

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

Answer 6

hyperventilation

Question 7

A virus that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses that affect the lungs or heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. It is highly contagious and spread through droplets.

Answer 7

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Question 8

Potentially life-threatening viral infection that usually starts with flulike symptoms.

Answer 8

severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)

Question 9

Irritation of the major lung passageways from infectious disease or irritants such as smoke.

Answer 9

chronic bronchitis

Question 10

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

Answer 10

hypoxia

Question 11

Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest wall that is worsened by a deep breath or other chest wall movement; often caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura.

Answer 11

pleuritic chest pain

Question 12

A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of carbon dioxide.

Answer 12

carbon dioxide retention.

Question 13

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

Answer 13

embolus

Question 14

Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi.

Answer 14

bronchial breath sounds

Question 15

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

Answer 15

pulmonary embolism

Question 16

The production of whistling sounds during expiration such as occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.

Answer 16

wheezing

Question 17

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

Answer 17

anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock)

Question 18

An inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children.

Answer 18

croup

Question 19

A chronic bacterial disease, caused by Mycobacterium _________, that usually affects the lungs

Answer 19

tuberculosis (TB)

Question 20

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

Answer 20

vesicular breath sounds

Question 21

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

Answer 21

rhonchi

Question 22

A “backup system” to control respiration; senses drop in the oxygen level in the blood.

Answer 22

hypoxic drive

Question 23

A high-pitched noise heard primarily on inspiration.

Answer 23

stridor

Question 24

A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine that is turned into a fine mist. The patient inhales the medication into the airways and lungs as a treatment for conditions like asthma.

Answer 24

small-volume nebulizer

Question 25

An acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on its cause, sometimes fever.

Answer 25

bronchitis

Question 26

Collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs.

Answer 26

atelectasis

Question 27

An acute spasm of the smaller air passages, called bronchioles, associated with excessive mucus production and with swelling of the mucous lining of the respiratory passages.

Answer 27

ashtma

Question 28

A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space.

Answer 28

pneumothorax

Question 29

A pathologic condition that results from the accumlation of acids in the body.

Answer 29

acidosis

Question 30

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Answer 30

dyspnea

Question 31

A disease of the lungs in which there 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.

Answer 31

emphysema

Question 32

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

Answer 32

pulmonary edema

Question 33

An inflammation/infection of the lung from a bacterial, viral, or fungal cause.

Answer 33

pneumonia

Question 34

Occurs when new cases of a disease occur in a human population and substantially exceed what is “expected, “ based on recent experience.

Answer 34

epidemic

Question 35

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

Answer 35

carbon monoxide

Question 36

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

Answer 36

influenza type

Question 37

An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.

Answer 37

pandemic

Question 38

Inflammation of the lung

Answer 38

pneumonitis

Question 39

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

Answer 39

epiglottitis

Question 40

A viral infection usually associated with swollen nasal mucous membranes and the production of fluid from the sinuses and nose.

Answer 40

common cold

Question 41

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

Answer 41

oxygenation

Question 42

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.

Answer 42

hay fever

Question 43

A crackling, rattling breath sound that signals fluid in the air spaces of the lungs; also called crackles.

Answer 43

rales

Question 44

An inflammation of the meningeal coverings of the brain and spinal cord; can be highly contagious.

Answer 44

meningococcal meningitis

Question 45

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Answer 45

respiration

Question 46

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

Answer 46

metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Question 47

A bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly used antibiotics; can be found on the skin, in surgical wounds, in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary tract.

Answer 47

methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Question 48

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

Answer 48

alkalosis

Question 49

An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a “whoop” sound on insipiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.

Answer 49

pertussis (whooping cough)

Question 50

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

Answer 50

diphtheria