Chapter 15 Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
Acidosis
The build up of excess acid in the blood or body tissues the results from a primary illness
Adventitious breath sounds
Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing, Stridor, Rhonchi, and crackles
Alkalosis
The build up of excess base (lack of acids) in the body fluids
Allergen
A substance that causes an allergic reaction
Anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock)
And extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure
Asthma
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
Aelectasis
Collapse of the Alveolar air spaces of the lungs
Bronchial breath sounds
Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi
Bronchiolitis
Information of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than two years and is often caused by the respiratory Syncytial virus
Bronchitis
An acute or chronic inflammation of the Lungs that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on it’s cause, sometimes fever
Carbon dioxide retention
A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer response to high blood levels of carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
An odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly poisonous gas that results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion
Chronic bronchitis
Irritation of the major lung passage ways from infectious disease or irritants such as smoke
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)
A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation
Crackles
Crackling, rattling breath sounds signaling fluid in the air spaces of the Lungs formally called rales
Croup
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
Diphtheria
And infectious disease in which a membrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Embolus
A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage
Emphysema
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
Epiglottitis
A disease in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and my cause an upper airway obstruction
Hay fever
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
Hyperventilation
Rapid or deep breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal
Hyperventilation syndrome (panic attack)
This syndrome occurs in the absence of other physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths per minute or as low as only 20 very deep breaths per minute
Hypoxia
A condition in which the body’s cells and tissues do not have enough oxygen
Hypoxic drive
A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in patients with chronic lung disease
Influenza type A
Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching a pandemic level within the H1N1 strain
Metered dose inhaler (MDI)
A miniature spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs
Orthopnea
Severe dyspnea experienced when lying down and relieved by sitting up
Oxygenation
The process of delivering oxygen to the blood
Pandemic
An outbreak that occurs on a global scale
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Severe shortness of breath, especially at night after several hours of reclining; the person is forced to sit up to breathe
Pertussis (whooping cough)
An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than six years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a whoop sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection
Pleural effusion
A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung
Pleuritic chest pain
Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that is worsened by a deep breath or other chest wall movement; often caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura
Pneumonia
And infectious disease of the lungs that damages lung tissue
Pneumothorax
A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space
Pulmonary Edema
A buildup of fluid in the lungs usually as a result of congestive heart failure
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow
Respiration
The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
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. RSV is highly contagious and spread through droplets
Rhonchi
Coarse breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the airways
Small volume nebulizer
A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine that is turned into a fine mist. The patient inhales the medication into the airways and the lungs as a treatment for condition such as asthma
Stridor
A harsh, high-pitched, barking inspiratory sound often heard in acute laryngeal (upper airway) obstruction
Tuberculosis (TB)
A disease that can lay dormant in a person’s lungs for decades, then reactivate; many strains are resistant to antibiotics. TB is spread by cough
Ventilation
Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT
Vesicular breath sounds
Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli
Wheezing
A high-pitched, whistling breath sound, characteristically heard on expiration in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
