Chronic Respiratory Flashcards
Asthma
Chronic inflammatory airway disorder; Consists of airway obstruction, bronchial irritability, edema of mucous membranes, congestion, and spasms of smooth muscles of the bronchi and bronchioles
Asthma Patho
- type 1 hypersensitivity immune response
- IgE mediated. Mast cells release histamine and leukotrienes that result in diffuse obstructive and restrictive airway disease from inflam and edema of mucus membranes, accum of secretion from mucus glands, spasm of smooth muscle of bronchi and bronchioles
How is asthma classified?
frequency and severity of sx (mild intermittent, mild, moderate, severe persistent) and level of control (controlled or partly controlled)
Asthma triggers
pets, exercise, pollen, bugs in home, chemical fumes, cold air, fungus spores, dust, smoke, strong odors, pollution, anger, stress
Asthma risk factors
age, heredity, gender, obesity, ethnicity; allergens, infection, tobacco smoke, indoor/outdoor air pollution, presence of food allergies
Asthma CM
- Dyspnea
- Expiratory wheezing
- Cough
- Diaphoresis
- Paroxysmal, hacking, & nonproductive cough at onset; becomes rattling
and productive of clear sputum - Prolonged expiratory phase
- Anxious expression, restlessness
- Setting position
- Coarse rhonchi
- Signs of respiratory distress; nasal flaring, cyanosis, intercostal retractions
Asthma Diagnosis
- Can be hard to establish, may call it bronchitis; usually diagnosed by medical hx, physical exam, lab results (no specific test to determine tho)
- PFTs helpful in confirming diagnosis and evaluating response to tx
- peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)
- measured with peak expiratory flow meter
- maximum flow of air that can be forcefully exhaled in 1 sec and measure in L/min
- each child needs to determine personal best during 2-3wk period when asthma is stable; recorded at least 2x/day and determines severity of sx
- used for short and daily long-term monitoring, managing exacerbation
- NOT used to diagnose asthma severity
Green zone
80-100% personal best; well-controlled asthma
Yellow zone
50-79% personal best; recognize which sx to pay attn to and add or inc meds accordingly
Red zone
under 50% personal best; recognize sx of asthma emergency–rescue meds and call 911; take bronchodilators
Asthma action plan (AAP)
Helps treat and prevent asthma attacks
Therapeutic management of asthma
enviro control, dec triggers, humidity btwn 35-50%, use A/C, dec underlying inflam, chest physiotherapy, patient edu
Drug therapy for asthma
Controllers (Preventer medications)
– Corticosteroids: QVAR, pulmicort, flovent
– Long Acting Beta 2 adrenergic agonists: Advair, Serevent
– Mast cell stabilizers: cromolyn
– Leukotriene inhibitors; singulair
– Methylxanthines (not used much- theophylline b/c of easy toxicity)
– Omalizumab is a monoclonal antibody used for patients with moderate to severe
persistent allergic asthma whose asthma symptoms are not controlled by inhaled
corticosteroids.
Relievers (Rescue medications)
– Short Acting Beta 2 adrenergic agonists/ Bronchodilators: Proventil, xopenex, albuterol
– Magnesium sulfate: acts to decrease inflammation and improves pulmonary function and
peak flow rate. Used in the ED or ICU with moderate to severe asthma.
How to assess outpatient asthma?
- precipitating factors
- tx
- physical assessment
- meds admin properly?
- UTD AAP (revew q6M)
- modify enviro
- UTD immunizations
- URI prevention
- pulmonary exercises