Respiratory Conditions. Flashcards
What are the 3 characteristics of asthma?
Bronchospasm of the bronchioles, oedema in the lining of the bronchioles and increased mucus production in the bronchioles.
List the symptoms of asthma and treatment.
SOB, reduced air movement, wheeze, marked indrawing, reduced sp02.
Treatment is 8lpm oxygen nebulised 0.5mg Ipratropium and 5mg Salbutamol. Followed up with 40mg PO prednisone.
ICP backup and 0.5mg adrenaline IM@EMT scope.
Describe the 3 types of COPD and what they are.
3 types of COPD.
Chronic bronchitis, which is an inflammation of the bronchioles with a productive cough.
Emphysema, which is narrowed lower airways and decreased elasticity of the alveolar walls causing air trapping and alveolar distention leading to alveoli death. This reduces the gas exchange surface area.
Chronic asthma, where bronchospasm, bronchiole oedema and extensive mucus production in the bronchioles occurs chronically.
Define COPD symptoms and management.
Symptoms of COPD include possible home O2, reduced air movement, productive cough, prolonged expiration, wheeze or crackles, SOBOE, reduced auscultation, reduced normal sp02.
Management if under 88% to get to 92%.
Oxygen titration or medical air 8lpm nebulised with 0.5mg Ipratropium and 5mg Salbutamol. 40mg prednisone if they’re not already on it.
Define the difference between bronchitis and pneumonia, and management.
Bronchitis is a lower airway infection causing pus, inflammation and bronchospasm.
Pneumonia is an alveolar or gas exchange infection that causes an inflammatory response. This response fills airspace with white blood cells and pus, reducing gas exchange surface area.
Management for a chest infection can be oxygen for hypoxia, paracetamol for pain or temperature, bronchodilators for bronchospasm if present, or shock treatment for dehydration.
What is a pulmonary embolism and what are it’s symptoms?
A pulmonary embolism develops when a blood-borne substance lodges itself in a pulmonary artery causing ischaemia. This could be from a DVT.
Symptoms include chest pain, dyspnoea, shallow respiration, tachycardia, collapse, shock, pleuritic inspiratory pain.
They may have had recent surgery, fractures, inner thigh pain or have high cholesterol.
Smoke inhalation treatment
The treatment for smoke inhalation includes high flow 02 or bronchodilators if bronchospasm is present.
Define a tension pnuemothorax and it’s symptoms.
A tension pnuemothorax is a cause of obstructive shock when a pnuemothorax is under positive pressure that impairs venous filling. Caused by hyperinflation in the pleural sac from a pnuemothorax.
Symptoms are shock, worsening SOB, JVDs, Tracheal deviation away from the effected side on top of a normal pnuemothorax which has reduced lung sounds and chest movement.
Foreign body airway obstruction treatment. Conscious adequate and inadequate, and unconscious adequate and inadequate.
Foreign body airway obstruction -
Conscious and adequate ventilation - no intervention.
Conscious and inadequate - 5 back blows, 5 chest thrusts, repeat.
Unconscious and inadequate - finger sweep, Laryngoscope and magill forceps, 5 compressions, CPR and intubation.
Unconscious and adequate - stable side position.
Define cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and its symptoms.
Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is often caused by left ventricle myocardial ischaemia, resulting in increased pulmonary vein pressure. This causes fluid accumulation in the pulmonary capillaries. Symptoms are wheeze or crackles bilaterally, especially while being supine. Chest pain, diaphoresis, SOB, tachycardia.
Describe treatment for cardiogenic pulmonary oedema.
Treatment for CPO is 12 lead, 0.8mg GTN every 3-5mins, IV access, Oxygenation, GTN patch, PEEP 10-15cmH2O.
Define stridor, its symptoms and treatment.
Stridor is a high pitched wheezing noise made whilst breathing caused by an obstruction. Its symptoms are respiratory distress and the loud noise. Treatment is Adrenaline 5mg nebuliser.
Define croup, its symptoms and treatment.
Croup is laryngeal and tracheal inflammation in children, caused by an infection. It is a harsh barking cough, and if respiratory distress occurs, our treatment is 5mg adrenaline nebuliser and Prednisolone or prednisone.
