Patients with Tubes and Lines Flashcards
Anatomy review of Respiratory System
fxn: provide oxygen to body tissues for cellular respiration and remove the waste product carbon dioxide
Upper respiratory tract – nose, mouth, sinuses, pharynx, larynx
Lower respiratory tract – trachea, bronchial tree, lungs
Oxygen (general)
When O2 is absent, irreversible brain damage can occur within 4-6 minutes
21% of O2 supplied in room air maintains homeostasis
What is oxygen therapy?
The administration of O2 at a concentration that is greater than that which is found in the environmental atmosphere
Oxygen therapy (general)
1/3 of all patients in care settings receive O2 therapy at some level
Purpose is to increase O2 saturation in tissues when the saturation levels are too low due to illness or injury OR prevent or minimize the increased cardiopulmonary workload (Increased HR, BP, and RR)
What is Hypoxia?
def: inadequate amount of O2 at the cellular/tissue level
To compensate for hypoxia, RR, depth of breathing, BP, and HR increases
Experience shortness of breath and have to work harder to breath
Delivering O2 alleviates cardiopulmonary work and BP, HR< RR, and depth may return to normal
*** Brain, heart, lungs, and liver are most sensitive to hypoxia
Causes of Hypoxia
- Decreased Hgb level
- Diminished concentration of inspired O2
- Inability of tissues to extract O2 from blood
- Decreased diffusion of O2 from alveoli to the blood
- Poor tissue perfusion with O2 blood
- Impaired ventilation
Signs and symptoms of Hypoxia
- Restlessness
- Inability to concentrate
- Declined level of consciousness
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Agitation
- Bluish skin (cyanosis)
Oxygen Therapy continued..
O2 should be treated as a drug (7 rights) MUST be prescribed by physician Prescribed in dose/concentration
Liters per minute (LPM) – common flow rate is 2 LPM
FiO2 (Fractional concentration of O2)
As you increase Liter, increases ~ 4% O2
O2 is combustible, no smoking by O2
Methods of Delivery:
Low/medium flow
Nasal cannula
- Low flow device, most common device for mild hypoxia
- 1-6 LPM
Simple face mask
- Low/moderate flow device, used when moderate amount of O2 is needed
- Short-term O2 therapy
- 5-10 LPM
Methods of O2 delivery:
High Flow
Venturi mask – allows precise measurement of O2 delivered
Non-rebreather mask – critical patients
Endotracheal tube
Supplementary O2 requires..
O2 tank
Flow meter
Ventilators
When cardiopulmonary system is unable to supply adequate oxygen to the tissues, patient may have artificial airway inserted into trachea and then connected to a mechanical ventilator
Ventilator delivers minimum set RR, preset RV, and consistent O2 concentration
Chest Tubes – Anatomy review
Lungs are covered with a double layer serous membrane called Pleura
Outer layer is called parietal pleura and inner layer is called visceral pleura
In-between layers is pleural space where serous fluid is and serves as lubricant
Chest Tubes (Thoracostomy tubes)
When fluid or air accumulates in pleural space, the lung cannot fully expand, and in some cases, may collapse
Chest tubes are inserted through chest wall and drain fluid and reestablish normal intrapleural pressure
Often placed after thoracic surgery or trauma
Chest tubes placement
Placed in pleural space between the ribs (5th and 6th intercostal space)
Tube is connected to collecting canister/chamber which should remain BELOW the site of insertion
Chest drainage systems use gravity and/or suction to remove air/fluid/blood
Urinary Catheters – anatomy review
fxn: filter blood and create urine as a waste by-product
Kidneys, renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and urethra
Cardiac monitoring
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is on the the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart through recording of heart’s electrical activity
Electrodes placed at specific location on the chest
EKG interpretation:
