Medical Procedures for Airway and Lung Diseases

Question 1

Airway Adjuncts

Answer 1

Devices used to maintain/protect the airway, provide mechanical ventilation, or promote airway clearance.
Oral pharyngeal airway: plastic tube that holds tongue away from back of throat to maintain airway
Nasal pharyngeal airway: tube inserted through nose for nasotracheal suctioning
Endotracheal tube: tube inserted in trachea from mouth or nose to provide an airway and allow for mechanical ventilation
Tracheostomy: Airway inserted into trachea from incision in neck. Used for prolonged mechanical ventilation

Question 2

Airway Suctioning

Answer 2

Mechanical aspiration of secretions using suction catheter.

Question 3

Bullectomy

Answer 3

Surgical procedure that removes bullae, air spaces that form when alveoli are destroyed through emphysema. Procedure improves breathing.

Question 4

Lobectomy

Answer 4

Surgical removal of a lobe of a lung

Question 5

Lung transplant

Answer 5

Reserved for those with end stage COPD, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, and other serious lung diseases.

Question 6

Lung volume reduction surgery

Answer 6

Portion of damaged lung tissue from emphysema is removed. Remaining lung tissue and diaphragm work more efficiently, allowing pt to breathe more easily.

Question 7

Mechanical ventilation

Answer 7

Positive pressure from ventilator provides the force that delivers air into lungs by increasing intrathoracic pressure.
Mechanical ventilation involves an automatic cycling ventilator connected to a tracheostomy tube or mask.

Question 8

Oxygen therapy

Answer 8

Indicated of acute or chronic hypoxema where PaO2 < or equal to 55 mmHg or SpO2 < or equal to 88% at rest. Or PaO2 of 56-59 mmHg or SpO2 of 89% in the presence of cor pulmonale or polycythemia. O2 can be delivered via nasal cannula, face mask, partial rebreathing mask, nonrebreathing mask, aerosol face mask, Venturi mask, and transtracheal catheter.

Question 9

Thoracotomy

Answer 9

Incision cutting the chest wall to access the heart, great vessels, lungs, esophagus, and diaphragm for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Question 10

Tracheostomy

Answer 10

Surgical hole through neck into trachea. Indications are airway obstruction at or above level of larynx and respiratory failure requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. Can be surgically closed when no longer needed.