Chapter 19 | Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
• How to identify adequate breathing • How to identify inadequate breathing • How to identify and treat a patient with breathing difficulty • Use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to relieve difficulty breathing • Use of a prescribed inhaler and how to assist a patient with one • Use of a prescribed small-volume nebulizer and how to assist a patient with one
Define:
adequate breathing
breathing sufficient to support life
List:
signs of adequate breathing
3 points (what you see with your eyeballs)
- no obvious distress
- ability to speak in full sentences
- normal skin color and mental status
Define:
inadequate breathing
breathing not sufficient to support life
List:
signs of inadequate breathing
3 points
- rate: abnormal RR
- rhythm: abnormal respiratory rhythm
- quality: poor tidal volume
Explain
treatment for inadequate breathing
assisted ventilations with supplemental oxygen
(pocket face mask, BVM, or other oxygen-powered ventilation device)
Describe:
adequate artificial ventilation rate
(for adults)
10-12 breaths per minute
(1 ventilation every 5-6 seconds)
Describe:
adequate artificial ventilation rate
(for children)
20 breaths per minute
(1 ventilation every 3 seconds)
Define:
“difficulty breathing”
patient’s subjective perception of breathing trouble
True or false:
The amount of breathing distress felt may or may not reflect actual severity of condition.
true
Define:
barrel chest
expansion of chest muscles by constant over-inflation of lungs
(associated with emphysema)
List:
methods used in respiratory assessment
3 points
- observation
- auscultation
- palpation
Define:
sacral edema
(and usual cause)
excess fluid in lower back
(usually caused by laying in bed for too long)
Define:
crackling
fine/coarse cracking sounds caused by fluid in alveoli or by opening of closed alveoli
Define:
CPAP
(abbreviation)
continuous positive air pressure
Define:
continuous positive air pressure (CPAP)
positive pressure to the airways that is maintained throughout the respiratory cycle (during both inspiration and expiration)
Fill in the blank:
CPAP is measured in [BLANK].
(unit of measurement)
CPAP is measured in centimeters of water (cm H₂O).
Fill in the blank:
Start to apply CPAP at [BLANK].
(unit of measurement)
Start to apply CPAP at 5 cm H₂O.
Fill in the blank:
The maximum setting for CPAP should be [BLANK].
(unit of measurement)
The maximum setting for CPAP should be 10 cm H₂O.
List:
common uses for CPAP
6 points (conditions)
- CHF / pulmonary edema
- asthma
- COPD
- drowning
- general respiratory failure
List:
indications of CPAP
3 points (critical findings)
- hypoxia (below 90%)
- high RR (above 25 bpm)
- difficulty breathing
List:
contraindications of CPAP
6 points
- severe AMS (unsafe)
- unsecured airway (unsafe)
- foreign body airway obstruction (counterproductive)
- penetrating chest trauma (ineffective)
- pneumothorax (counterproductive)
- hypotension (counterproductive)
List:
steps before administering a prescribed inhaler
5 points
- six rights
- check expiration date
- shake inhaler
- determine if patient is alert enough
- use spacer device if available
Define:
diaphoretic
condition of diaphoresis
excessively sweating due to a secondary condition
Fill in the blank:
When administering a prescribed inhaler, make sure the patient [BLANK] so medication can be absorbed.
make sure the patient inhales deeply and holds breath as long as possible so medication can be absorbed.