COPD Flashcards
What would you observe in someone with COPD
Early- morning cough, chest infections, reduced exercise tolerance
Moderate- cough, wheeze, chest shape wall and movement,SOB breathing pattern , barrel chest in chest shape, diaphragm flat on cxr
Severe- cyanosis around skin and mouth and hands, weight loss, raised JVP, peripheral oedema in eyes, mouth
Pursed lip breathing, accessory muscle use, able to talk in full sentences
What assessments could you use for someone with COPD
CXR, oxygen sats, auscultation
What’s the Borg Breathless ness scale
rates exertion and breathlessness during physical activity, rates difficulty of breathing, starts at 0 where breathing causes no difficulty at all progressed to number 10 where breathing difficulty is maximal
Why do you put patients in side lying
Lower hemi diaphragm pre stretched by abdominal pressure causes twice the excursion as it has a advantage over the upper hemi diaphragm
What is a chest x ray why would you use it
A chest x ray is produced by electromagnetic beams passing through the thorax and exposing a photographic film, preliminary checks have to be done preliminary checks, name, date, projection, exposure, position, inspiration, and the A-G system
What would you see on a chest x ray with someone with COPD
In a chest x ray to assess COPD you may see enlarged lungs, air pockets or flattened diaphragm
What treatments could you use for someone with COPD
Pulmonary rehab, exercise and education
What is pulmonary rehab, why would you use it for someone with COPD
Involves warm up, exercise for an hour and education for an hour, evidence based multidisciplinary comprehensive intervention for patients with chronic respiratory disease which are symptomatic and often have decreased daily activities integrated into the individualised treatment of the patient
Why use exercise in pulmonary rehab
Increases exercise tolerance, improves muscle strength, reduces breathlessness and fatigue, benefits o quality of life, general benefits reduces risk of diabetes, cholesterol and obesity
What are contraindications for pulmonary rehab
Unstable angina, unstable diabetes, uncontrolled bp, uncontrolled arrhythmia, MI in 6 weeks leading up to PR, cognitive problems, compliance issues
How do you structure a pulmonary rehab programme
Min of twice a week, 6-12 weeks, rolling or cohort programme, muscle resistance training and aerobic training should be offered within a month post discharge, Borg breathless ness scale can be used to measure progress
What would you expect to hear on auscultation with a patient who has COPD
Increased breath sounds and crackles due to sputum
