MT M5 case study Flashcards
Identify and define the combining forms in the italicized words found within the progress note.
a. Alveoli
b. Respiratory
c. Nasal
d. Rhonchi
e. Oral
A-Alveol/o means small, hallow sac.
B-Respirat/o means breathing.
C-Nas/o means nose.
D-Rhonch/o means snore.
E-Or/o means mouth. (Table 5.5 of module 5)
Answer the following question by describing the anatomy of healthy lungs.
a. How many lobes does each lung have? (1 point)
b. Where does gas exchange occur? (1 point)
c. Where is the apex and the base located? (1 point)
A-The right lung has three lobes, and the left lung has two lobes. (Section 5.6.3 of module 5)
B-Gas exchange occurs in the alveoli, tiny air sacs that are surrounded by capillaries. (Section 5.6.2 of module 5)
C-The apex is located at the superior part of the lungs and the base is located at the inferior part of the lungs. (Section 5.6.3 of module 5
Our patient was placed on nebulized bronchodilator treatments upon admission to the hospital and then discharged home on an inhaled bronchodilator medication to be used as needed when she feels short of breath.
a. Identify and define the combining forms in the term bronchodilator. (2 points)
b. Using these definitions, how does this medication work? (1 point)
c. Why would it help her when she is feeling short of breath? (2 points)
A-Bronch/o meaning bronchus (Table 5.5) and dilat/o meaning to widen (Table 5.1).
B-A bronchodilator is a medication that widens the bronchial tree. (Figure 5.23)
C-In a patient with COPD and damaged alveoli, widening the bronchi would enable more air to reach the functioning alveoli that are able to exchange gas with the capillaries. (Section 5.8.3 of module 5)
In the assessment of a patient with a history of smoking, it is common to calculate the patient’s pack years. This is calculated by the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day multiplied by the number of years that the patient has smoked. Calculate Linda’s pack years.
1 pack per day x 39 years of smoking = 39 pack years of tobacco exposure (Case study progress note, History of Present illness (current age) and social history (age she began smoking, number of packs per day) sections
Describe what damage these pack years of tobacco exposure have done to Linda’s lungs over the years and what acutely led to this hospitalization.
The constant exposure to tobacco smoke over the years has damaged the epithelial cells of her alveoli, causing them to become distended and enlarged. Her ability to exchange gas within her lungs is limited, and she will feel progressively short of breath. (Section 5.8.3 of module 5) After a night of breathing in a smoky bar, her ability to exchange gas within her lungs was acutely worse, likely due to some inflammation in her bronchial tree. (Case study progress note, history of present illness section and Section 5.8.3 of module 5)
Influenza is an infectious, respiratory disease caused by a viral infection of the lungs. Patients can experience severe body aches, fever and chills, headache, and a cough. It can be prevented or lessened in severity through the administration of a vaccine.
Why would it be important for a patient with COPD to receive a flu vaccine yearly?
Patients with COPD are at a higher risk for lung infections. As influenza is a disease of the lungs and patients with COPD already have damaged lungs, preventing this infection through a vaccine that is well tolerated would be beneficial. (Section 5.8.3)
Linda’s need for home oxygen will be assessed with a 6-minute walk test. She will be connected to oximetry and then asked to walk on a flat surface for 6 minutes first without supplemental oxygen and then with supplemental oxygen. The distance that she will be able to walk will be compared between the two sessions as well as her oxygen saturation.
a. Identify and define the combining form and suffix in the term oximetry. Define the term. (2 points)
b. Using terms found in the respiratory flashcards, what are three symptoms or signs that she may have that would indicate that she would need supplemental oxygen at home? (3 points)
A-Ox/o is the combining form that means oxygen. -metry is a suffix that means the process of measuring. Oximetry is the process of measuring the amount of oxygen within the blood. (Tables 5.5 and 1.7, respiratory flashcards)
B-If she needs supplemental oxygen, the symptom she may complain of during her 6-minute walk test is dyspnea. The signs that she may show are cough, cyanosis, hypoxia, rhonchi, tachypnea, or wheezing. (Respiratory flashcards)
Linda was given steroids during her hospitalization for presumed bronchitis.
a. What is the definition of bronchitis?
b. What symptom(s) would indicate that a patient has bronchitis?
Your Answer:
a) condition of inflammation of the bronchioles. Often with mucus production. Inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes.
b) Low grade fever, Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing. Runny, stuffy nose, Chest congestion, cough, Feeling run-down or tired.
A-Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchioles.
B-Bronchitis causes chronic coughing with excess sputum production. (Section 5.8.3)
