Med Surg Exam 2 Flashcards
What is asthma?
A heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation
What 3 things does asthma cause?
think patho
airway hyperresponsiveness
- mucosal edema
- mucus production
What does the inflammation of asthma lead to? (Symptoms)
cough
- chest tightness
- wheezing
- dyspnea
What group of people are most prone to asthma?
African Americans and hispanics
Is asthma reversible?
Yes
What is the biggest predisposing factor for asthma?
Allergies
What is the pathophysiology of asthma?
Mast cells, when activated, will release mediators (which are chemicals that contain histamine, bradykinin, etc.) that perpetuate the inflammatory response causing increase blood flow, vasoconstriction, fluid leak from vessels, attraction of WBC, mucus, and bronchoconstriction
During acute exacerbations of asthma, ____ occurs quickly to narrow the airway in response to an exposure
bronchoconstriction
What are the three most common symptoms of asthma?
cough
- dyspnea
- wheezing
When do asthma attacks occur most often?
At night or early morning
What Signs of progressing asthma exacerbations
- generalized wheezing,
- chest tightness,
- dyspnea
- sweating,
- tachycardia,
- widened pulse pressure,
- cyanosis,
- hypoxemia
What labs might you see during asthma episodes?
- Increased eosinophils in blood and sputum
- Serum levels of IgE if allergy is present
- Hypoxemia, hypocapnia, respiratory acidosis, from ABG/O2 Sat
- Increase PaCO2 if condition worsens
How do you prevent asthma?
Get tested and avoid triggers
- A detailed work history evaluation to identify occupational triggers
- Standard asthma meds
- Compensation systems
What are major complications of asthma?
Status asthmaticus
- Respiratory failure
- Pneumonia
- Atelectasis
Why do we give fluids to people with asthma?
They get dehydrated from sweating and insensible fluids loss with hyperventilation
What 3 things does primary treatment of asthma focus on?
preventing impairment of lungs function
- minimizing symptoms
- preventing exacerbations
What condition can substantially increase exacerbation of asthma and needs to be controlled?
Anxiety
What is the first choice of meds for quick-relief of asthma?
Short-acting bet-2 adrenergic agonists (albuterol, levalbuterol, pirbuterol).
- These relax smooth muscle
What meds do we give to patients who do not tolerate meds like albuterol well?
Anticholinergics like ipratropium
What are long acting control meds for asthma?
What classes
- Corticosteroids
- Long-acting beta-2 adrenergic agoists
- Leukotriene modifiers or antileukotrienes
- Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
- Immunomodulators
What kind of monitoring measures the highest airflow during a forced expiration and is given to moderate-severe asthma patients?
Peak flow monitoring
When does a tension pneumothorax occur?
When air is drawn into the pleural space from a lacerated lung or through a small opening/wound in the chest wall
What is different about tension pneumothorax compared to other forms?
The air that is breathed into the affected lung becomes trapped and cannot be expelled, causing a buildup of tension. This will cause the heart, trachea, and great vessels to shift to the unaffected side impacting both circulation and respiration
If the pneumothorax is small and uncomplicated, what s/s would you see
- sudden pain
- minimal respiratory distress
- slight chest discomfort and tachypnea
If large or total lung collapse, what s/s would you see?
- Acute respiratory distress
- anxiety
- dyspnea and air hunger
- use of accessory muscles
- development of central cyanosis from hypoxemia
What to assess when lookin for a tension pneumothorax
- trachea shifted from affected side
- decreased or fixed chest expansion
- diminished or absent breath sounds
- percussion is hyper resonate
The goal of pneumothorax treatment is to
evacuate the air or blood from the pleural space
Treatment of tension pneumothorax
- Give high concentration of supplemental oxygen (hypoxemia)
- Pulse oximetry
In a tension pneumothorax emergency, what 3 things are done?
- Decompress it into a simple pneumothorax by inserting a large 14 gauge bore needle to relieve the pressure
- Then, apply a chest tube and underwater seal for suction and reestablishing negative pressure to expand the lung again.
- If air leaks continue, surgery may be necessary
What causes a post-procedure pneumothorax
This usually occurs when air escapes from a laceration in the lung itself and enters the pleural space from invasive procedures like a thorancetesis, transbronchial lung biopsy, and insertion of subclavian line.
What is pneumonia
inflammation of the lung parenchyma caused by bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Community Acquired Pneumonia
When does it occur
occurs either in the community setting or within the first 48 hrs after hospitalization or institutionalization.
What is Health Care-Associated Pneumonia
The causative pathogens are often MDROs because o prior contact with a health care environment. Do not delay antibiotic treatment
Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia
When does it develop?
Develops 48 or more hours after hospitalization and does not appear to be incubating at time of admission.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Subtype of hospital acquired but there is the pretense of an ET tube and has received mechanical ventilation for at least 48 hours.
Who is at risk for Immunocompromised Pneumonia?
Individuals who are immunocompromised drugs like corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, chemo, nutritional depletion, the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, etc. are at risk.
Immunocompromised pneumonia s/s
subtle onset with progressive dyspnea, fever, and a nonproductive cough
What is Aspiration pneumonia?
pulmonary consequences resulting from entry of endogenous or exogenous substances into lower airway.
How does aspiration pneumonia occur
bacterial infection residing in upper airway OR aspirating other contents like gastric contents may impair lung defenses, cause inflammation, and lead to bacterial growth resulting in pneumonia
Pneumonia implications/treatment
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Appropriate antibiotics
- rest/hydration
- managing complications
- some patients - supplemental oxygen
- CHEST X-RAY
What is a Pulmonary embolism?
obstruction of pulmonary artery or one of its branches by a thrombus that originates somewheres in the venous system or in the right side of the heart
Most common causes of PE
dislodged or fragmented DVT, air, fat, amniotic fluid, and septic (from bacterial invasion)
What are assessment findings of PE?
Dyspnea,
chest pain,
substernal and may mimic angina, anxiety,
fever,
tachycardia,
apprehension,
cough,
diaphoresis,
hemoptysis, and syncope
What are the most frequent s/s of PE?
tachypnea; dyspnea
How do you manage PE?
What do you do to help the patient?
- Semi-Folwer position
- Opioid analgesics for pain
- Continuous oxygen therapy
- Deep breathing, incentive spirometry
- Relieve anxiety
- Watch for cardiogenic shot or right ventricular failure
- Measure pulmonary arterial pressure and urinary output
- Elevate foot and encourage isometric exercises
- Compression devices
What are diagnostic findings related to PE?
Not physical assessment
- Sinus tachycardia or pleural effusion
- Nonspecific ST-T wave abnormalities
- Hypoxemia, hypercapnia
What is aspiration?
inhalation of foreign material into the lungs leading to inflammatory reaction, hypoventilation, and ventilation-perfusion mismatch
What is a serous complication of aspiration?
broncho or lobar pneumonia
What is the key pathophysiology of aspiration?
the volume and character of aspirated contents (most often GI contents)
What are some practices to avoid aspiration?
Maintain head-of-bed elevation at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees, unless contraindicated
*Use sedatives as sparingly as possible
*Before initiating enteral tube feeding, confirm the tip location
*For patients receiving tube feedings, assess placement of the feeding tube at 4-hour intervals, assess for gastrointestinal residuals (<150 mL before next feeding) to the feedings at 4-hour intervals
*For patients receiving tube feedings, avoid bolus feedings in those at risk for aspiration
*Consult with primary provider about obtaining a swallowing evaluation before oral feedings are started for patients who were recently extubated but were previously intubated for >2 days
*Maintain endotracheal cuff pressures at an appropriate level, and ensure that secretions are cleared from above the cuff before it is deflated.
What are signs of pneumonia caused by aspiration?
tachycardia
- dyspnea
- central cyanosis
- hypertension
- hypotension
- potentially death
What are nursing interventions for aspiration?
- Keep HOB elevated and endotracheal cuff elevated (if intubated)
- Avoid stimulation of gag reflex with suctioning or other procedures
- Check for placement before tube feedings
- Soft diet, small bites, no straws
What is COPD acute exacerbation?
increased dyspnea that is a result of amplified hyperinflation and air trapping.
What Primary causes of an acute COPD exacerbation are usually related to?
viral infections, particularly human rhinovirus (i.e., the common cold). However, bacterial infections and environmental factors have also been linked to the development of acute exacerbations
What Treatment of acute COPD exacerbation?
Bronchodilator meds (first line)
- Or corticosteroids, antibiotic agents, oxygen therapy, and intensive respiratory interventions
What are Indications for hospitalization of COPD acute exacerbation
- dyspnea
- confusion/lethargy
- respiratory muscle fatigue
- paradoxical chest wall movement
- edema/cyanosis
- hypoxemia
What is Chronic condition of COPD?
slowly progressive respiratory disease of airflow obstruction involving airways, pulmonary parenchyma (lung tissue, bronchioles, bronchi, blood vessels, interstitial, and alveoli), or both
COPD may include disease that cause airflow obstruction like
emphysema, chronic bronchitis