Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Medical Lectures > Pulmonary Embolism > Flashcards

Pulmonary Embolism Flashcards

1
Q

What are the clinical signs of a PE?

A 
Chest pain
Dyspnea
Cough
Apprehension
Disorientation
2/3 of patients who suffer a fatal PE do so within 30 minutes of becoming symptomatic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Common Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary Disease

A 
Cough
Dyspnea
Abnormal Sputum
Chest pain
Hemoptysis
Cyanosis
Digital Clubbing
Altered Breathing Patterns
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a persistent dry cough commonly caused by?

A

tumor, congestion, or hypersensitive airways (allergies)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does purulent sputum indicate?

A

infection

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

A productive cough with nonpurulent sputum indicates:

A

nonspecific and just indicates irritation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does dyspnea usually indicate?

A

inadequate ventilation or insufficient amounts of oxygen in the circulating blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What causes dyspnea?

A

Usually caused by diffuse and extensive rather than focal pulmonary disease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Orthopnea

A

Dyspnea when the person is lying down
Fluid shift leads to increased fluid in the lung.
The abdominal contents also exert pressure on the diaphragm, decreasing the efficiency of the respiratory muscles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Factors contributing to the sensation of dyspnea

A

Increased work of breathing
Respiratory muscle fatigue
Decreased breathing reserve
Strong emotions, particularly anxiety and anger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Pulmonary pain patterns

A

Usually localized in the substernal or chest region over the involved lung fields
May include anterior chest, side, or back

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Where can pulmonary pain radiate?

A

the neck, upper trapezius, costal margins, thoracic back, scapulae, or shoulder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does pleural irritation result in?

A

sharp, localized pain that is aggravated with any respiratory movement

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What relieves chest pain?

A

autosplinting (or lying on the affected side), which diminishes the movement of that side of the chest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Hemoptysis

A

Coughing and spitting up blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What does hemoptysis indicate?

A 
Infection
Inflammation
Abscess
Tumor
Infarction
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Cyanosis

A

A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What can cyanosis be?

A

central

peripheral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Central cyanosis:

A

caused by decreased oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in arterial blood
Best observed in buccal (cheek) mucous membranes and lips

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Peripheral cyanosis:

A

slow blood circulation in fingers and toes

Best observed in nail beds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Conditions that may cause clubbing:

A 
Cystic fibrosis
Lung cancer
Bronchiectasis
Pulmonary fibrosis
Congenital heart disease
Lung abscess
Can be present with disorders of the liver and GI tract
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Altered Breathing Patterns

A

Occur in response to any condition affecting the pulmonary system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Apneustic breathing

A

Gasping inspiration followed by short expiration

Localizes damage to the midpons and is most commonly due to a basilar artery infarct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Ataxic or Biot’s breathing

A

A haphazard random distribution of deep and shallow breaths

Caused by disruption of the respiratory rhythm generator in the medulla.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

A

repeated cycle of deep breathing followed by shallow breaths or cessation of breathing

25
What is the most common cause of Cheyne-Stokes respiration?
CHF | Can occur with renal failure, meningitis, drug overdose, and increased intracranial pressure
26
Kussmaul’s respiration
a distressing dyspnea characterized by increased respiratory rate (>20/min), increased depth of respiration, panting, and labored respiration typical of air hunger
27
What condition is associated with Kussmaul’s respiration ?
strenuous exercise, metabolic acidosis
28
What causes hyperventilation?
anxiety, acute head injury, blood oxygenation, fever
29
What causes hypoventilation?
fibromyalgia syndrome, chornic fatigue syndrome, sleep apnea, muscle fatigue, muscle weakness, malnutrition, fever
30
What causes apneustic breathing?
midpons lesion, basilar artery infarct
31
What causes Biot's breathing?
exercise, shock, cerebral hypoxia, heat stroke, spinal meningitis, head injury, brain abscess, encephalitis
32
Hypoxemia
Deficient oxygenation of arterial blood, which may lead to hypoxia Caused by respiratory alterations
33
Hypoxia
A broad term meaning diminished availability of oxygen to the body tissues May occur anywhere in the body
34
Causes of hypoxia
Caused by alterations of other systems that have no relation to changes in the pulmonary system
35
Pulmonary edema
Accumulation of fluid in the tissues and air spaces of the lung
36
Causes of pulmonary edema?
heart disease, esp. left ventricular failure, acute HTN, or mitral valve prolapse pulmonary disease complications liver kidney disorder
37
Later signs of pulmonary edema?
persistent cough, slight dyspnea, diaphoresis, and intolerance to exercise
38
What is seen in pulmonary edema patients?
May see engorged neck and hand veins, pitting edema of the extremities, and the paroxysmal noctural dyspnea
39
What may be one of the first signs of dyspnea?
difficulty breathing when lying down, relieved with sitting up (orthopnea)
40
Preferred position of pulmonary edema patients?
sitting position with legs dangling over the edge of the plinth is preferred position
41
Pulmonary Tuberculosis
An infectious, inflammatory systemic disease that affects the lungs that may disseminate to involve lymph nodes and other organs
42
Cause of Pulmonary Tuberculosis
mycobacterium tuberculosis
43
Symptoms suggestive of TB include
``` Productive cough of more than 3 weeks duration especially when accompanied by other symptoms Weight loss Fever Night sweats Fatigue Malaise Anorexia ```
44
TB patients may have:
Chest expansion may be decreased Tracheal deviation may be present Postural adaptations may have developed in late stages because of poor breathing patterns Should also assess overall posture, gait, muscle strength, balance, and functional mobility
45
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
number of disorders that affect movement of air in and out of the lungs, particularly within the small airways. The most important of these disorders are obstructive bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma
46
Chronic bronchitis
excessive secretion of bronchial mucus and is manifested by daily productive cough for 3 months or more in at least 2 consecutive years
47
Emphysema
pathologic diagnosis that denotes abnormal permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole, with destruction of their walls and without obvious fibrosis
48
What does exercise do for COPD patients?
enhance CV fitness and train skeletal muscles to function more effectively
49
Asthma
inflammatory condition with secondary bronchospasm marked by recurrent attacks of dyspnea, with wheezing due to the spasmodic constriction of the bronchi
50
Need to monitor vital signs if suspected (asthma):
Increasing tachypnea Hypertensive BP readings due to hypoxemia Auscultate the lungs for wheezing and quality of air movement
51
Pleurisy
pleura (parietal) caused by infections, injury (rib fracture), or tumor
52
Symptoms of pleurisy:
Sudden onset of symptoms – usually a sharp, sticking chest pain worse with inspiration, coughing, sneezing, or movement associated with deep inspiration May have cough, fever, chills, and rapid shallow breathing (tachypnea)
53
Pleural Effusion
Collection of fluid in the pleural space (between the membrane encasing the lung and the membrane lining the thoracic cavity)
54
Infected pleural effusion
an accumulation of pus that occurs occasionally as a complication of pleurisy or some other respiratory disease, usually pneumonia
55
Lab findings for pulmonary embolism:
ECG Arterial blood gas D-dimer
56
Wells for PE
``` S&S of DVT Alternative diagnosis less likely HR greater than 100 Immobilization for more than 3 days in previous 4 weeks Previous DVT or PE Hemoptysis Cancer ```
57
Wells high:
greater than 6
58
Wells moderate:
2-6
59
Wells low:
less than 2

Medical Lectures (11 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions