Respiratory emergencies Flashcards
Principal function of lungs
Respiration (O2 and CO2 exchange)
Where does gas exchange take place
Alveoli
Respiration
Brainstem senses level of CO2 in arterial blood
What happens when CO2 levels are too low
Slower rate of breathing, and less deep- less CO2 expired helping carbon dioxide levels in blood return to normal
Normal breathing rates
Adult: 12 to 20 breath/min
Child: 15 to 30 breath/min
Infant: 30 to 60 breath/min
Signs of normal breathing
- Normal inhalation and exhalation
- Clear and equal bilateral breath sounds
- Regular and equal chest rise and fall
- Adequate tidal volume (depth)
- Unlabored: w/o abnormal breath sounds (wheezing, stridor)
Signs of inadequate breathing
- Pt reports difficulty or shortness of breath
- Pt has AMS w shallow or slow breathing
- Adult pt appears anxious or restless
- Respiratory rate too fast or too slow
- rhythm irregular
- Skin: pale, cool, clammy, cyanotic
- Pursed lips, nasal flairing
- Tripod position
- Very little speaking
Hypoxic drive
Chronically low levels of O2 in blood that stimulate respiratory drive- seen in pt w chronic lung disease
*Use caution when administering O2 to these pt
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath
Causes of dyspnea
- Pulmonary edema
- Hay fever
- Pleural effusion
- Obstruction of airway
- Hyperventilation syndrome
- Environmental/industrial exposure
- Carbon monoxide poisoning
- Drug overdose
Dyspneic pt may have
Gas exchange between alveoli and pulmonary circulation obstructed by fluid in lungs, infection, or collapsed alveoli
- alveoli damaged and cannot trnaport gas properly across the walls
- air passes obstructed by muscle spasm, mucus, or weakened
- blood flow to lungs obstructed by blood clot
- pleural space filled w air or excess fluid (lungs cannot properly expand)
Dyspnea common w
Cardiopulmonary diseases
-CHF causes heart to pump ineffectively and deprive body of O2- pulmonary edema common w CHF
