Pulm Emergencies Flashcards
1
Q
Causes of upper airway obstruction?
A
- FB
- tongue
- swelling/edema
2
Q
Upper airway obstruction assessment?
A
- air movement?
- stridor or snoring
- ability to talk and/or swallow?
drooling, muffled voice - assoc SOB
- vital signs needs to include O2 sats
- is pt stable or unstable?
3
Q
Etiology of upper airway obstruction?
A
- fb
- retropharyngeal abscess
- angioedema
- head and neck trauma
- swelling/edema from inhalation injuries
- epiglottitis, croup, tonsillitis, peritonsilar abscess, Ludwig’s angina
4
Q
Difference b/t incomplete and complete FB obstruction?
A
- incomplete: if just in nose, what sxs may they have?
should hear some noise (stridor) - complete obstruction of upper airway: Heimlich, Magill forceps, do they need cricothyroidotomy?
5
Q
Where is the retropharyngeal space?
A
- extends from base of skull to tracheal bifurcation
6
Q
Etiology of retropharyngeal abscess in kids, adults?
A
- kids: usually from lymph node that drains the head and neck
- adults: penetrating trauma (chicken bones), from an infection in mouth/teeth, lymph nodes that drain head and neck
7
Q
Signs and sxs of retropharyngeal abscess?
A
- fever
- dysphagia
- neck pain
- limitation of cervical motion
- cervical lymphadenopathy
- sore throat
- poor oral intake
- muffled voice
- respiratory distress
- stridor more likely in kids
- inflammatory torticollis
8
Q
W/U of retropharyngeal abscess?
A
- lateral soft tissue XR of neck during inspiration
- on neck XR: see expansion of prevertebral soft tissues
- CT scan of neck is Gold Std
9
Q
Tx of Retropharyngeal abscess?
A
- immediate ENT consult
- tx is surgical incision and drainage
- IV hydration and IV abx to be started in ER
clindamycin: adult dose 600-900 mg IV q 8hr
or
ampicillin-sulbactam (Unasyn):
adult dose 1500-3000 mg q 6hr
10
Q
Complications of Retropharyngeal abscess?
A
- extension of infection into mediastinum: pleural or pericardial effusion
- upper airway asphyxia
- sudden rupture:
aspiration pneumonia
widespread infection
11
Q
What is angioedema?
A
- subdermal or submucosal swelling
- swelling is diffuse and nonpitting
- can occur in isolation, w/ urticaria, or as component as anaphylaxis
- affects face, lips, mouth, throat, larynx, extremites, genitalia and possibly bowel (colicky abdominal pain)
- often asymmetric swelling
12
Q
Tx of angioedema?
A
- rapid initial assessment of airway and close monitoring
- intubation or surgical airway may be necessary
- intubate immediately if any signs of resp distress
13
Q
Tx of allergic angioedema?
A
- if mast cell mediated (allergic):
epinephrine 0.3 mg IM
glucocorticoids (Methylprednisolone 60-80 mg IV or oral prednisone 40 mg)
diphenhydramine 25-50 mg IV
14
Q
Tx of ACE inhibitor induced angioedema?
A
- intubate immediately if signs of respiratory distress
- d/c offending drug (ACEI), usually sxs resolve in 24-72 hrs
- if swelling is severe or no improvement in 24 hr:
antihistamines, glucocorticoids
C1 inhibitor therapy (recombinant C1 inhibitor obtained from milk transgenic rabbit or from donated blood/FFP
15
Q
Tx of hereditary angioedema?
A
- intubate immediately if any signs of respiratory distress
- bradykinin receptor antagonist is 2nd line therapy if C1 inhibitor concentrate not available from FFP or Ruconest
16
Q
What is anaphylaxis?
A
- acute, potentially lethal, multisystem syndrome from the sudden release of mast cells and basophils into circulation
17
Q
Presentation of anaphylaxis?
A
- sudden onset generalized urticaria (hives) - 10-20% will have no skin sxs
- angioedema
- flushing
- pruritus
- hypotension
18
Q
Signs and Sxs of anaphylaxis?
A
- swelling of conjunctiva
- runny nose
- swelling of lips, tongue and/or throat
- heart and vasculature: fast or slow HR, low BP
- skin: hives, itchiness, flushing
- pelvic pain
- CNS: lightheadedness, LOC, confusion, HA, anxiety
- resp: SOB, wheezes or stridor, hoarseness, pain w/ swallowing, cough
- GI: crampy abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of bladder control
19
Q
Tx of anaphylaxis?
A
- Epi (all other tx are supportive and don’t reverse the process)
- adults: 0.3-0.5 mg IM q 5-15 min x3 if needed
- kids: 0.1 mg/kg w/ max dose of 0.5 mg
- give 5-15 min up to 3 doses
- Airway management: immediate assessment for wheezing, stridor, diff breathing, immediate intubation if marked stridor or resp arrest, may reqr a surgical airway
20
Q
Overview of tx of anaphylaxis?
A
- assess airway/do they need to be intubated?
- simult. give IM epi
- O2 via nonrebreather (if airway patent)
- 2 large bore IV access sites: NS bolus 1-2 L initially, 20ml/kg in kids
- consider albuteral neb 2.5 mg, H1 blocker (diphenhydramine 50 mg IV), H2 blocker (ranitidine 50 mg IV), methylprednisolone (solu-medrol 125 mg IV)
- vasopressors for shock may be necessary
21
Q
Signs of head and neck trauma?
A
- gurgling: pooling of liquids in oral cavity or hypopharynx
- snoring: partial airway obstruction at pharyngeal level from the tongue
- stridor:
inspiratory: obstruction at level of larynx
expiratory: obstruction at level of trachea - wheezing: narrowing of lower airways
22
Q
Management of head and neck trauma?
A
- secure airway while simult. protecting brain and c-spine from further injury
- jaw thrust and suctioning can often clear airway
- mandibular fx may need to displace tongue forward to maintain patent airway
- avoid nasotracheal intubation w/ midface trauma to avoid communication w/ cranium
- RSI vs intubation w/o paralytics: how hard are they to adequately BVM ventilate? Need to prep for cric prior to RSI? If hypopharynx is intact will an LMA suffice for back up?
23
Q
What is diff b/t stupor and coma?
A
- both: inability to protect airway due to lack of gag reflex
- oropharyngeal airway vs intubation
- stupor: is lack of critical cog fxn and level of consciousness wherein a sufferer is almost entirely unresponsive and only responds to base stimuli such as pain
- coma: state of unconsciousness lasting more than 6 hrs, in which a person: can’t be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound; lacks normal sleep-wake cycle, and doesn’t initiate voluntary actions
24
Q
Pneumothorax?
A
- accum of air in pleural space
- can be spontaneous or trauma induced
- spontaneous: pneumo that occurs w/o precipitating event in a person w/o a lung disease
