Respiratory Conditions Flashcards
What is the Nose’s role
Humidified and warms air and filters small particles
What does the trachea split into
Bifurcated into the right and left bronchi at a junction known as the carina or angle of Louis
What are located in the lung?
Bronchioles, alveolar ducts and alveoli
What are the bronchiole encircled by and what do they do?
Smooth muscles that constrict and dilate in response to stimuli
What is bronchoconstriction and bronchodilation ?
Increase and decrease in diameter of the airways through contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle
What are alveoli responsible for?
Exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide
What occurs at the alveolar capillary membrane ?
Exchange of gases via diffusion
How to assess the ability to oxygenate arterial blood?
Examination of PaO2 and SaO2.
What are the chest wall structure muscles that aid in respiration?
Ribs
Pleura
Respiratory muscles
What is the chest cavity lined with ?
Partial pleura
What are lungs lined with?
Visceral pleura
What allows the pleural layers to slide over during respiration?
Fluid like lubricant in the pleura
What is the mains respiratory muscle ?
Diaphram
What does ventilation involve ?
Inspiration and expiration
Due to what pressure does air move in and out of the lungs?
Intrathoracic pressure changes
What increases chest dimensions ?
Contraction of diaphragm, intercostal and scalene muscles
What allows the elasticity of lung tissue ?
Elastin fibres found in the alveolar walls and surrounding bronchiole and capillaries
How does the intrathoracic pressure rise ?
Recoil of the chest wall and lungs removing air from the lungs
What is compliance ?
Measure of the ease of explanation of the lungs
How do we assess the efficiency of gas transfer in the lungs ?
Arterial blood gases (ABGs)
mixed venous blood gases
Oximetry
What does the respiratory centre of the medulla oblongata respond to and how does the impulses travel to the respiratory muscles?
Chemical and mechanical signals; they travel through the spinal cord and the phrenic nerves
What help to regulate ventilation?
Chemoreceptors (central and peripheral)
What do mechanical receptors help to control ?
Respiration stimulated by physiological factors I.e. irritants, muscles stretching.
What are the respiratory defence mechanisms ?
Air filtration
Mucociliary clearance
Reflex bronchoconstriction
Alveolar macrophages
What are the changes to respiratory system with ageing ?
Decline in respiratory muscle strength
Decrease in number of functional alveoli and elasticity
Higher risk of respiratory tract infections.
List 3 restrict pulmonary disorders
Pneumonia
Asbestosis
Pulmonary fibrosis
List 3 obstructive pulmonary disorders
Asthma
COPD
Cystic fibrosis
What is pleurisy and what is it caused by ?
Inflammation of the pleura, caused by chest infections, trauma to the chest and neoplasms
How to diagnose pleurisy
Blood test
Chest xray
Needle biopsy of pleural fluid
Bronchoscopy
Treatment of pleurisy
Analgesia and antibiotic
Although dependant on primary cause
What is bronchiectasis
Permanent and abnormal dilation of medium sized bronchi
What is bronchiectasis caused by?
Inflammation - infection
Accumulation of thick mucous
Damage of bronchial structures
Clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis
Persistent cough
Wheezing
Clubbing fingers
Dyspnoea
How do we diagnose and treat bronchiectasis
Chest xray
CT chest (high resolutions)
Sputum sample
Pulmonary function tests
Nursing management of bronchiectasis
Regular vitals and respiratory assessment
Promote drainage of mucus secretions
Medication administration
What is asthma and what triggers it ?
Chronic inflammation of the airway, triggered by cross linking of allergen s with immunoglobulin on mast cells
What are the classifications according to my to severity of asthma?
Intermittent
Mild persisten
Moderate persistent
Severe persistent
Complications of asthma
Insomnia
Depression
Respiratory failure
Mechanism of action of B-adrenoceptir agonists ?
Salbutamol (SABAs)
Salmeterol and formoterol (LABAs)
Activate the b2-adrenoceptors in bronchial smooth muscles causing relaxation of bronchial smooth muscle
Adverse reactions of B-adrenoceptor agonists
Salbutamol (SABAs)
salmeterol and formoterol (LABAs)
Reflex
Trachycardia
Headache
Palpitations
Contraindications of B-adrenoceptor agonists
Salbutamol (SABAs)
Salmeterol and Formoterol (LABAs)
Antagonises the effects of b2 agonists which may precipitate asthma
Mechanisms of action of corticosteroids
Inhaled: beclomethasone, bedesonide, fluticason
Oral: prednisolone, dexamethasone
Binds to specific glucocorticoid receptors, facilitating or inhibiting transcription.
Inhibits production of COX enzymes
Adverse effects of corticosteroids
Inhaled: beclomethasone, bedesonide, fluticason
Oral: prednisolone, dexamethasone
Dysphonia
Oropharyngeal
Candidiasis
Weight gain
Contraindications of corticosteroids
Inhaled: beclomethasone, bedesonide, fluticason
Oral: prednisolone, dexamethasone
Hypersensitivity
Mechanism of action for anticholinergics
Inhibits the effect of cholinergic nerves, causing the muscles to relax and airways to dilate
Mode of transmission for anticholinergics ?
MDI (metered dose inhaler) or nebuliser
Adverse effects of anticholinergics
Dizziness
Dry mouth
GI upset
Nausea
