Chapter 14 - Airway Flashcards
Agonal Respirations
Slow, shallow, irregular respirations resulting from anoxic brain injury
Air Trapping
A respiratory pattern associated with an obstruction in the pulmonary tree; the respiratory rate increases to overcome resistance in getting air out, the respiratory effort become more shallow, the volume of trapped air increases, and the lungs inflate.
Alveolar Air Volume
In contrast to dead air space, alveolar volume is the amount of air that does reach the alveoli for gas enhance (approximately 350mL in the adult male). It is the difference between tidal volume and dead-space volume.
Angle of Louis
An angulation of the sternum that indicates the point where the second rib joins the sternum; also called the Manubriosternal Juction
Anoxia
A total lack of oxygen availability to the tissues.
Apnea
Respiratory arrest
Atelectasis
An abnormal condition characterized by the collapse of alveoli, preventing the respiratory exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in a part of the lungs.
Barrier Device
A thin film of material placed on the patient’s face used to prevent direct contact with the patient’s mouth during positive-pressure ventilation.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP)
The delivery of two (bi) levels of positive-pressure ventilation; one during inspiration (to keep the airway open as the patient inhales) and the other (lower) pressure during expiration to reduce the work of exhalation
Biot Respirations
Irregular respirations varying in rate and depth and interrupted by periods of apnea; associated with increased intracranial pressure, brain damage at the level of the medulla, and respiratory compromise from drug poisoning.
Bradypnea
A respiratory rate that is persistently slower than normal for age; in adults, a rate slower than 12 breath/min.
Capnograph
A device that provides a numerical reading of exhaled CO2 concentrations and a waveform (tracing).
Capnography
Continuous analysis and recording of CO2 concentrations in respiratory gases.
Capnometer
A device used to measure the concentration of CO2 at the end of exhalation.
Capnometry
A numeric reading of exhaled CO2 concentrations without a continuous written record or waveform.
Carina
The point where the trachea divides into the right and left mainstem bronchi.
Central Neurogenic Hyperventilation
Similar to Kussmaul Respirations; characterized as deep, rapid breathing; associated with increased intracranial pressure.
Cheyne-Stokes Respirations
A pattern of gradually increasing rate and depth of breathing that tapers to slower and shallower breathing with a period of apnea before the cycle repeats itself; often described as a crescendo-decrescendo pattern or periodic breathing.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
A progressive and irreversible condition characterized by diminished inspiratory and expiratory capacity of the lungs.
Compliance
The resistance of the patient’s lung tissue to ventilation.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
The delivery of slight positive pressure throughout the respiratory cycle to prevent airway collapse, reduce the work of breathing, and improve alveolar ventilation.
Costal Angle
The angle formed by the margins of the ribs at the sternum.
Coughing
A protective mechanism usually induced by mucosal irritation; the forceful, spastic expiration experienced during coughing aids in the clearance of the bronchi and bronchioles.
Crackles (Rales)
As the name implies, when fluid accumulates in the smaller airway passages, air passing through the fluid creates a moist crackling or popping sound heard on inspiration.
Crepitation
A crackling sound indicative of bone ends grinding together.
Cricothyroid Membrane
A fibrous membrane located between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages.
Cricothyrotomy
An emergency procedure performed to allow rapid entrance to the airway (by the cricothyroid membrane) for temporary oxygenation and ventilation.
Dead Air Space
Not all the air inspired during a breath participates in gas exchange and can be further classified as anatomic or physiologic dead space. In the average adult male this equates to approximately 150 mL. Anatomic dead space includes airway passages such as the trachea and bronchi, which are incapable of participating in gas exchange. Alveoli that have the potential to participate in gas exchange but do not because of disease or obstruction, as in COPD or atelectasis, are referred to as Physiologic Dead Space.
Dyspnea
An uncomfortable awareness of one’s breathing that may be associated with a change in the breathing rate, effort, or pattern.
Endotracheal (ET)
Within or through the trachea.
Endotracheal Intubation
An advanced airway procedure in which a tube is placed directly in the trachea.
Exhaled CO2 Detector
A capnometer that provides a noninvasive estimate of alveolar ventilation, the concentration of exhaled CO2 from the lungs, and arterial carbon dioxide content; also called an End-Tidal CO2 Detector.
Expiratory Reserve Volume
Amount of gas that can be forcefully expired at the end of a normal expiration.
External Respiration
The exchange of gases between the alveoli of the lungs and the blood cells traveling through the pulmonary capillaries.
Extubation
Removal of an ET tube from the trachea.
FiO2
Fraction of inspired oxygen.
Flail Segment
A free-floating section of the chest wall that results when two or more adjacent ribs are fractured in two or more places or when the sternum is detached.
Functional Reserve Capacity
At the end of normal expiration, the volume of air remaining in the lungs.
Gagging
A reflex caused by irritation of the posterior pharynx that can result in vomiting.
Gag Reflex
A normal neural reflex elicited by toughing the soft palate or posterior pharynx; the responses are symmetric elevation of the palate, retraction of the tongue, and contraction of the pharyngeal muscles.
Gastic Distention
Swelling of the abdomen caused by an influx of air or fluid.
Glottis
The true vocal cords and the space between them.
Hemoglobin
A protein found on red blood cells that is rich in iron.
Hering-Breuer Reflex
A reflex that limits inspiration and prevents overinflation of the lungs in a conscious, spontaneously breathing person; also called the Inhibito-Inspiratory Reflex
Hiccup (Hiccoughing)
Intermittent spasm of the diaphragm resulting in sudden inspiration with spastic closure of the glottis; usually annoying and serves no known physiologic purpose.
Hilum
The point of entry for bronchial vessels, bronchi and nerves in each lung.
Hypercarbia
An excess of CO2 in the blood
Hyperpnea (Hyperventilation)
A respiratory pattern characterized by rapid, deep breathing.
Hyperventilation
Blowing off too much carbon dioxide.
Hypocarbia
An inadequate amount of carbon dioxide in the blood.
Hypoventilation
Occurs when the volume of the air that enters the alveoli and takes part in gas exchange is not adequate for the body’s metabolic needs.
Hypoxemia
An abnormal deficiency in the concentration of oxygen in arterial blood.
Hypoxia
Inadequate oxygenation of the cells.
Inspiratory Reserve Volume
Amount of gas that can be forcefully inspired in addition to a normal breath’s tidal volume.
Internal Respiration
The exchange of gases between blood cells and tissues.
Kussmaul Respirations
An abnormal respiratory pattern characterized by deep, gasping respirations that may be slow or rapid
Laryngoscope
An instrument used to examine the interior of the larynx; during ET intubation, the device is used to visualized the glottic opening.
Minute Volume
Amount of gas moved in and out of the respiratory tract per minute. Tidal volume multiplied by ventilatory rate equals minute volume. The minute volume is the true measurement of a patient’s ventilatory status and is vital in assessing pulmonary function. It ascertains the ventilatory rate and the depth of each inhalations
Orthopnea
Dyspnea relieved by a change in positions (either sitting upright or standing).
Oxyhemoglobin
Hemoglobin that has oxygen molecules bound to it.
Paradoxic Motion (of a Segment of the Chest Wall)
Part of the chest moves in an opposite direction from the rest during respiration.
Partial Pressure
The pressure exerted by an individual gas in a mixture.
Peak Expiratory Flow
The greatest rate of air flow that can be achieved during forced expiration beginning with the lungs fully inflated.
Peak Flow Meter
A device used to assess the severity of respiratory distress.
Pocket Mask
A clear, semirigid mask designed for mouth-to-mouth ventilation of a non breathing adult, child, or infant.
Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)
The amount of pressure above atmospheric pressure present in the airway at the end of the expiratory cycle.
Positive-Pressure Ventilation
Forcing air into the lungs
Pulse Oximetry
A noninvasive method of measuring the percentage of oxygen-bound hemoglobin
Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI)
The use of medications to sedate and paralyze a patient to achieve endotracheal intubation rapidly.
Rattles (Rhonchi)
Attributable to inflammation and mucus or fluid in the larger airway passages, rattles or rhonchi are descriptive of airway congestion heard on inspiration. honcho are commonly associated with bronchitis or pneumonia.
Residual Volume
After a maximal forced exhalation, the amount of air remaining in the lungs and airway passages not able to be expelled.
Respiration
The exchange of gases between a living organism and its environment.
Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen (SpO2)
The percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen (SpO2)
Sellick Maneuver
Technique used to compress the cricoid cartilage against the cervical vertebrae, causing occlusion of the esophagus, thereby reducing the risk of aspiration; cricoid pressure.
Sighing
Involuntary and periodic slow, deep breath flowed by a prolonged expiratory phase. Occurring approximately once per minute, the act of sighing is thought to open atelectatic (collapsed) alveoli
Sneezing
Occurs from nasal irritation and allows clearance of the nose.
Stylet
A relatively stiff but flexible metal rod covered by plastic and inserted into an ET tube; used for maintaing the shape of the relatively pliant ET tube and “steering” it into position.
Suprasternal Notch
A depression easily felt at the base of the anterior aspect of the neck, just above the angle of Louis.
Surfactant
Specialized cells within each alveolus that keeps it from collapsing when little or no air is inside.
Tachypnea
A respiratory rate persistently faster than normal for age; in adults, a rate faster than 20 breath/min.
Tidal Volume
The volume of gas inhaled or exhaled during a single respiratory cycle. In the average adult male this is approximately 500 mL (5 to 7 mL/kg).
Tracheal Stoma
A surgical opening in the anterior neck that extend from the skin surface into the trachea, opening the trachea to the atmosphere.
Tracheostomy
The surgical creation of an opening into the trachea.
Tripod Position
Sitting upright and learning forward, supported by the arms, with the neck slightly extended, chin projected, and mouth open to maintain an airway.
Uvula
Fleshy tissue resembling a grape that hangs down from the soft palate.
Vallecula
The depression or pocket between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis
Ventilation
The mechanical process of moving air into and out of the lungs.
Wheeze
A musical, whistling sound heard on inspiration and/or expiration resulting from constriction or obstruction of the pharynx, trachea, or bronco. Wheezing is commonly associated with asthma.
