Exam 2, Ch 29 (Week 4): Upper Respiratory Problems Flashcards
What is a deviated septum?
A nasal septum that is deviated from the midline.
What symptoms does a deviated septum present with?
Pain, deformities and crepitus
Severe deviated septum symptoms are what 3 things?
-Facial pain
-Epistaxis
-Breathing obstruction
What is crepitus?
Rice-crispy crackling from joints or cartilage moving.
What is the priority action of the nurse when assessing for nasal trauma?
Assess their airway!
What is epistaxis?
A nosebleed
A patient presenting with nasal trauma arrives in an ER. The attending physician orders a nurse to assess the fluid dripping from the patients nose to check if the fluid contains glucose. What does the nurse use to assess the fluid? What does it mean if there is glucose found?
A dipstick is used to assess the fluid.
If the fluid has glucose in it, then it means that the fluid contains cerebrospinal fluid, meaning a patient may have a spinal injury.
What is the best way to maintain a patient’s airway?
Keep them sitting up.
What are two goals for the treatment of a deviated septum/trauma to the nose?
-Restore function and appearance
-Control bleeding and edema
A “Closed Reduction” is a procedure to do what?
Set (or reduce) a broken bone without surgery
When is the best time to do a Closed Reduction?
a.) Within 5 hours of the trauma
b.) Within 3 hours of the trauma
c.) Within 24 hours of the trauma
d.) Within 3-7 days of the trauma
b.) Within 3 hours of the trauma.
The sooner the better
What is the longest amount of time you can wait before attempting a Closed Reduction?
3-7 days of the trauma
A patient with nasal trauma is self-conscious about her disfigurement and so she starts to ask her nurse about Rhinoplasty. What is Rhinoplasty?
Reshaping the exterior of the nose
A patient with a deviated septum is inquiring about nasal surgeries and asks about Rhinoplasty. Will Rhinoplasty repair his deviated septum?
No, not technically.
Septorhinoplasty is used to repair the deviated septum. Regular rhinoplasty just repairs the exterior of the nose.
If a patient with nasal trauma keeps swallowing, what could that mean?
Possible bleeding in the throat
What is Epistaxis?
a.) Hemorrhaging in the laryngopharynx caused by an allergic reaction.
b.) Hemorrhaging of a deviated septum caused by a rupture.
c.) Hemorrhaging in the mucous membrane vessels, caused by a rupture.
d.) Hemorrhage of the cervix due to trauma
c.) Epistaxis is hemorrhaging of the vessels in mucosal membranes due to a rupture.
aka nosebleed. Because these words were made by scientists, so they use Latin and shit to make themselves sound smarter, like fuckin’ dorks.
Which type of epistaxis is emergent and can cause hypoxia?
-Anterior epistaxis
-Posterior epistaxis
Posterior Epistaxis is emergent and can cause Hypoxia
Anterior Epistaxis stops eventually through what?
Posterior Epistaxis, on the other hand, requires what?
Anterior Epistaxis stops eventually through clotting.
Posterior Epistaxis requires “Packing”
Name 4 tools a nurse would use to “Pack” Posterior Epistaxis
-Gauze
-Foley catheter
-Nasal sponges
-Epistaxis balloon
-
Sinus infections are marked by pain in what area?
What would you treat it with?
Marked by tooth pain.
Treated with an Antibiotic.
Inflammation of the nasal mucosa, often is response to an allergen, is known as what?
Rhinitis/Allergic Rhinitis
“This develops when swelling or inflammation of nasal mucosa block the openings in the sinuses, through which mucus drains into the nose.”
What is this describing?
a.) Rhinitis
b.) Allergic Rhinitis
c.) Sinusitis
d.) Epistaxis
d.) Sinusitis is the result of sinus openings being blocked, due to nasal mucosa inflammation.
Rhinosinusitis, a disease that often accompanies sinusitis, is a resulting sinus infection due to what precipitating affliction?
Rhinitis
Rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal mucosa. This leads to the sinuses being blocked from leaking their mucus out of the nose. The buildup of this mucus can cause an infection. This resulting infection is known as Rhinosinusitis, because it was CAUSED by Rhinitis.
What should a patients CO2 levels be, btw?
between 3.4-5
What type of drugs would be used to treat Allergic/Viral Rhinitis?
-Anticholinergic Nasal Spray
-Antihistamines
-Corticosteroid nasal sprays
-Decongestants
Viral Rhinitis, aka the common cold (URI), isn’t treated with corticosteroids, or antihistamines. It is treated symptomatically. So, if Viral Rhinitis cause a fever, what would be a pharmacological method of treatment?
What if it was causing a cough?
Fever: Tylenol, or another Antipyretic
Cough: Mucolytic, or an Antitussive (Anticough)
The highly contagious respiratory illness that is casually known as “The Flu” is called what?
Influenza
Why is the Influenza virus so contagious?
It is constantly mutating to adapt.
What is the only real way to treat Influenza?
Prevention through vaccination