Chapter 16, 17, 15 (508-528) Flashcards
Hypoxemia
Decreased oxygen levels in the blood
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath or perceived difficulty in breathing
Apnea
Absence of breath; respiratory arrest
Hypoxia
The absence of sufficient oxygen in the body’s cells
Bronchoconstriction
Constriction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi and bronchioles
Bronchodilator
A drug the relaxes the smooth muscle of the bronchi and the bronchioles and reverses bronchoconstriction
Hypercarbia
Increased carbon dioxide levels in the blood
aka hypercapnia
Respiratory Distress
Increased respiratory effort resulting from impaired respiratory function
Respiratory Failure
Inadequate respiratory rate and/or tidal volume
Respiratory Arrest
Complete stoppage of breathing
Metered-dose inhaler
Device consisting of a plastic container and canister of medication that is used to form an aerosolized medication that a patient can inhale
Small-volume nebulizer
A device that uses compressed air or oxygen to nebulize a liquid medication into a mist that a patient can inhale
Spacer
A chamber that is connected to the metered-dose inhaler to collect the medication until it is inhaled
Tripod Position
A position in which the patient sits upright, leans slightly forward, and supports the body with arms in front and elbows locked. This is a position commonly found in respiratory distress.
Pulsus Paradoxus
A drop in blood pressure of more than 10 mmHg during inhalation resulting from increased pressure within the chest that suppresses the filling of the ventricles of the heart with blood
Automaticity
The ability of cells within the cardiac conductive system to generate a cardiac impulse on their own
Heart
The muscular organ that contracts to force blood into the circulatory system
Circulatory System
System composed of the heart and blood vessals
Cardiac Conduction System
Contractile and conductive tissue of the heart that generates electrical impulses and causes the heart to beat
Atria
The two upper chambers of the heart
Ventricles
The two lower chambers of the heart
Venae Cavae
The two major veins that carry oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart
Pulmonary Artery
Vessel carrying oxygen-depleted blood from the heart’s right ventricle to the lungs
Pulmonary Vein
Vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart
Aorta
The major artery from the heart
Artery
Blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
Arteriole
The smallest branch of an artery
Capillary
A tiny blood vessel connecting arterioles to venules
Vein
Vessel that carries blood toward the heart
Venule
Smallest vein
Coronary Arteries
Arteries supplying the heart with blood
Blood Pressure
The force exerted by the blood on the interior walls of the blood vessels
Perfusion
Delivery of oxygen and other nutrients to the cells resulting from the constant adequate circulation of blood through the capillaries
Cardiac Compramise
Reduced heart function caused by any condition, disease, or injury affecting the heart
Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
Signs and symptoms resulting from conditions in which the coronary arteries are narrowed or occluded
Nitroglycerin
Medication that dilates the blood vessels, increasing blood flow and decreasing the workload of the heart
Resusciatation
Bringing the patient back from a potential or apparent death
Cardiac Arrest
The cessation of cardiac function with the patient displaying no pulse, no breathing, and unresponsiveness
Sudden Death
Death of a patient within one hour of the onset of signs and symptoms
Downtime
The time from cardiac arrest until effective CPR
Total Downtime
The time from cardiac arrest until delivery to the emergency department
Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)
Spontaneous pulse return during resuscitation
Survival
Term applied to a patient who survives cardiac arrest to be discharged from the hospital
Chain of Survival
Series of interventions-early access, CPR, defibrillation, and ACLS- that provides the best chance for successful cardiac resuscitation
Defibrillation
Electrical shock delivered to help the heart restore a normal rythem
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
A device that can analyze the electrical activity or rhythm of a patients heart and deliver an electrical shock (defibrillation) if appropriate
Ventricular Fibrillation (V-Fib)
A continuos, uncoordinated, chaotic rhythm that does not produce pulses
Ventricular Tachycardia (V-Tach)
A rapid heart rhythm that may or may not produce a pulse; ussualy too fast to adequately perfuse body organs
Asystole
A heart rhythm indicating absence of any electrical activity in the heart
Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA)
A condition in which the heart generates relatively normal electrical rhythms but fails to perfuse the body adequately because of a decreased or absent cardiac output from cardiac muscle failure of blood loss
