Respiratory assessment Flashcards
what’s the function of the resp system>
- gas exchange
define oxygenation?
- mechanisms that facilitate or impair body’s ability to supply O2 to cells
define respiration?
- inhaling and exhaling air to transport o2 to the alveoli (for the exchange of co2)
define resp diffusion?
- actual exchange of o2 and co2
when asking the PT questions about resp health history
- family history
- home environment = are they exposed to pollution? Secondhand smoke? Smoke? Pets?
- occupational environment = certain jobs and chemicals
- travel = outside of the country
- chronic illness?
- allergies?
- hard time breathing ?
- Presence of cough w/ sputum or pain, if so what does it look like
- Meds for breathing? What type? Home oxygen? How much?
- Do you have difficulty breathing when you sleep?
what is expected findings for respiratory exam with general appearance and posture?
- clean, calm, upright (erect), want them to be flush, warm not pale
what is expected finding for breathing effort?
- equal breathing, chest expansion if it’s not bilateral equal thats abnormal
when inspecting breathing what are we looking for?
- resp rate, Rythm & depth
- Nails, skin, lips for color = blue color, or clubbing in the nails is abnormal
when inspecting for a resp. assessment what are we assessing / looking for?
- note facial expression, LOC, skin color, RR, sounds produced, accessory muscle use, positioned
- note shape and configuration of the chest = normal is 1:2
- measure the transverse measurement when barrel chest is suspected
- look for accessory muscle use
what shape is helpful to utilize when listening to lungs?
- go in a vase shape both anteriorly and posteriorly when you listen to breath sounds
- )( = how you should listen
when auscultating a PT’s thorax what are nurses looking for?
- auscultate posterior an lateral thorax for breath sounds
what is the tracheal breath sound, where is it, and what does it sound like?
- over the trachea
- sound: harsh, high pitched
what is the bronchial breath sound, where is it, and what does it sound like?
- next to the trachea
- sounds loud and high pitched
what is the bronchovesicular breath sound, where is it, and what does it sound like?
- next to the sternal border & between the scapula
- sound = medium, loudness, medium pitch
what is the vesicular breath sound, where is it, and what does it sound like?
- remainder of lungs
- sounds soft and low pitched
define eupnea
normal resp rate
define dyspnea
shortness of breath (SOB)
define tachypnea
greater than 20 resp per min
define bradypnea
less than 12 resp per min
what is an adventitious breath sound?
- abnormal breath sounds
what does crackles or fire sound like in the lungs?
- high pitched crackling an popping noises heard during inhalation, not cleared by cough or positional changes
- can be hard to hear
what does wheezing sound like in the lungs?
- musical sounds similar to squeak heard more commonly during expiration, but can during inspiration occurs in small airways
what does rhonchi sound like in the lungs?
- low pitched, coarse, loud, low snoring or moaning noise
- cough may clear
what does plural sound like in the lungs?
- rubber rubbing against each other
- lining of the lungs (the plural) rubbing against each other
