Respiratory Flashcards
What is the primary concern for upper airway fractures?
Ensure patent airway!! Nursing priority to promote oxygenation**
What structures involve upper airway?
nose, sinuses, oropharynx, larynx, trachea–> they all provide entrance for air which is necessary for oxygenation and tissue perfusion
Nasal fracture: what Tx is needed if bone or cartilage is NOT displaced?
May not need Tx; serious complications usually do not result.
Nasal fracture: what Tx is needed if bone or cartilage IS displaced or deformity exists?
Closed reduction: manipulation of bones by palpation
Rhinoplasty: surgical reconstruction
Nasoseptoplasty: removal of cartilage to straighten nasal septum
How would you document an assessment of nasal fracture?
- If bone or cartilage is displaced
- Where there is blood or clear fluid (CSF)
- Note presence of yellow hallow from nasal secretions as CSF (yellow is glucose on dried edges of fluid)
- Change in nasal breathing
- Note crepitus, bruising and pain
What interventions are necessary after rhinoplasty?
- Observe for bleeding and edema
- VS q4h
- Pt should sit in semi-fowlers, MOVE SLOWLY
- Limit valsalva maneuvers
- Don’t take ASA or NSAIDs to prevent risk of bleeding
- Assess how often pt is swallowing
What assessment is priority after nasal surgery, like rhinoplasty?
How often the pt swallows. Doing so repeatedly may indicate posterior nasal bleeding which is an EMERGENCY! (b/c it can’t be easily reached & pt may lose blood quick)
What are chronic symptoms of a deviated septum?
“stuffy nose”, snoring, sinusitis
What can cause epistaxis?
Nosebleeds can occur as a result of:
- trauma,
- HTN,
- Inflammation
- decreased humidity
- nose blowing
- nose picking
- NG suctioning
- blood dyscrasia (e.g. leukemia),
- tumor
- cocaine use
Tx for anterior epistaxis?
oPosition the patient upright and leaning forward to prevent blood from entering the stomach and possible aspiration
oReassure pt and attempt to keep pt quiet to reduce anxiety and BP
oApply direct lateral pressure for 10 mins and
oApply ice or cool compress to the nose and face
oPrevent rebleeding: don’t blow the nose for 24 hrs after bleeding stops
Use nasal saline sprays and humidification
Avoid blowing nose and use of ASA and NSAIDs
Tx for posterior epistaxis? What should you assess for? Administer?
- posterior packing (gauze above throat and string thread thru the nose)
- epistaxis catheters (nasal pressure tubes) or
- gel tampons (which expand on contact w/ blood to compress vessels)
•Assess for respiratory distress and for tolerance of packing or tubes
**Administer:
humidification,
oxygen,
bed rest,
antibiotics (esp. w/ tubes)
pain medications PRN (esp. w/ tubes)
What can be done if a nosebleed does not respond to emergency care?
Affected Capillaries are cauterized with silver nitrate or electrocautery
Nosebleed is packed
What should the nurse watch for in pt with nasal polyps?
o possible obstruction of nasal breathing, usually bilateral
o change character of nasal discharge (infection)
o change in speech quality (obstruction)
How are nasal polyps treated?
• Benign polyps managed w/ inhaled steroids then surgical removal
o Surgery – treatment of choice is polypectomy
o Watch for bleeding after surgery
o Nostrils are packed w/ gauze for 24h
o Polyps often recur after treatment
What are the LaForte levels?
o LeForte I – Nasoethmoid complex fracture
o LeForte II – Maxillary and nasoethmoid complex fracture
o LeForte III – Combination of I and II plus an orbital-zygoma fracture or a craniofacial disjunction (The most serious of the LeForte fractures)
Upon arrival of a pt with facial trauma, what care should be given?
AIRWAY, control hemorrhage, and assess extent of injury
o Anticipate need for emergency intubation (these pt will need!)
Tracheotomy surgical incision into the trachea to create an airway
Cricothyroidotomy creation of a temporary airway or making a small opening in the throat between the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage
Why do you need to stabilize a jaw fracture? What is the procedure?
allows teeth to heal in proper alignment
Tx:
Fixed occlusion wiring the jaws together in the mouth closed position (6-10 wks)
• Given antibiotics b/c of wound contamination
Debridement removal of dead tissue may be needed if there is mandibular bone infection
• Caused by treatment delay, tooth infection or poor oral care
What is the primary concern w/ facial fractures?
AIRWAY!
Always assess the patients need for an airway FIRST (whether it be his own or artificial)
What manifestations present with airway obstruction?
Decreased oxygen saturation Stridor (block in larynx, heard on inhale) Dypsnea/ SOB/ air hunger Anxiety/ Restlessness Hypoxia (not enough oxygen to tissues) Hypercarbia (↑CO2 in the blood) Cyanosis Loss of consciousness
What is definition of OSA?
Obstructive sleep apnea is disruption of breathing during sleep that lasts at least 10sec and occurs minimum of 5x in 1hr
What is the non-surgical tx of OSA?
For mild apnea:
- change of sleep position,
- weight loss,
Severe apnea:
non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation (BiPAP, APAP, CPAP) (Bi-level, autotitrating, continuous)
What is occurring with OSA to disrupt breathing? Effect on CO2 and pH?
• During sleep the muscles relax and the tongue and neck structures are displaced
o result: upper airway is obstructed but chest movement is unimpaired
o Apnea ↑ blood CO2 levels and ↓ pH
What are the side effects of OSA on the person?
Excessive daytime sleepiness, inability to concentrate, and irritability