Chapter 16- Beside Assessment of the Patient Flashcards
Diagnosis
The process of identifying the nature ands cause of illnesses.
Differential diagnosis
Refers to a situation when many diseases share the similar signs and symptoms maike their exact cause unclear.
Signs
The objective manifestation of illnesses
Symptoms
The sensation or subjective experience of some aspect of an illness.
Factors affecting communication between the RT and the patient should include what?
- Sensory and emotional factors
- Envriomental factors
- Verbal and non Verbal communication
- Cultural values, beliefs, feelings, habitats and preoccupations of the RT and the patient.
Dyspnea
The general term to describe the sensation of breathing discomfort.
Breathing is a complex balance along these three factors?
- the nueral drive to breathe coming from the brainstem.
- the tension in the respiratory muscles.
- the corresponding displacement of the lungs and the chest wall.
Breathlessness
The unpleasant urge to breathe. Can be triggered by acute hypercapnia, acidosis or hypoxemia.
Orthopnea
Dyspnea when the person reclines
Platypnea
Dyspnea triggered by assuming an upright position.
Orthodeoxia
oxygen desturation on assuming an upright positon.
Trepopnea
Occurs when a patient with unilateral lung disease lies on the affected side.
What are the 4 major questions to be asked when a patient experiences dyspnea?
- What daily activites trigger it.
- How much exertion can the patient handle before they have to stop to catch their breath.
- Does the qaulity of dyspnea vary with different activities.
- When did your dyspnea become apparant , has it evolved over time, slowly or rapidly, Has there been a recent change in the dyspnea?
Psychogenic hyperventilation syndrome
Associated with panic disorders
Cough
A forceful expiratory maneuvuer that expels mucus, foregin materials from the airways.
Where are your cough receptors located?
The larynx, trachea and larger bronchi
4 factors necessary for an effective cough
- the ability to take a deep breath
- lung elastic recoil
-expiratory muscle strength
-level of airway resistance.
Atelectasis
a complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung
5 Important cough characteristics that an RT should know.
- if cough is dry or loose
-productive or non productive - acute or chronice
- freqency
- is it provoked by a particular position
How long does a chronic cough last
More than 8 weeks.
Phlegm
uncontaminated mucus from oral secreations
Sputum
Mucus expectorated from the mouth contains pus cells.
Purlent
suggesting a bacterial infection
What does purlent sputum look like?
Thick, coloured and sticky.