Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
With reference to breath sounds what does wheezing sound like?
Musical, whistling noise, high-pitched
With reference to breath sounds what do crackles or rails sound like?
Popping noises that are non-musical
With reference to breath sounds what do rhonchi sound like?
Snoring sound, low pitch
With reference to breath sounds what does pleural friction rub sound like?
Grating sound with respirations
What is the V-Q relationship?
The open Alveolus and the open capillary are necessary in order for diffusion of gases to occur. When there is a problem with either of these structures, blood is not oxygenated
Normal arterial blood gases:
PH = 7.35 to 7.45
PA02 = 80 to 100
PACO2 = 35 to 45 HCO3 equals 22 to 26
BE = +/- 2
What happens to your pH during acidosis?
Your pH decreases
What happens to PCO2 and HCO3 during respiratory acidosis?
PCO2 is increased
HCO3 is normal
What happens to PCO2 and HCO3 during metabolic acidosis?
PCO2 is normal
HCO3 is decreased
What happens to your pH during alkalosis?
PH is increased
What happens to PCO2 and HCO3 during respiratory alkalosis?
PCO2 is decreased
HCO3 is normal
What happens to PCO2 and HCO3 during metabolic alkalosis?
PCO two is normal
HCO3 is increased
What are some other names for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)?
Hyaline membrane disease
Wet loan
Posttraumatic pulmonary insufficiency
DeNang lung
Shock long
Acute lung injury (ALI)
pulmonary contusion
What is the mortality rate of ARDS?
40 to 70%
What are the Etiologies of acute respiratory distress syndrome that are related to direct pulmonary injury?
Pneumonia
Embolism
Aspiration
Inhalation
Prolonged exposure to oxygen
High altitude pulmonary edema
Lung contusions
What are the Etiologies of acute respiratory distress syndrome that are related to systemic illnesses?
Sepsis
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Pancreatitis
Uremia
Anaphylaxis
Drug overdose
Eclampsia
Radiation therapy
Shock
What are the etiologies of acute respiratory distress syndrome that are related to trauma?
Multisystem trauma
Massive blood transfusions
Possible causes of respiratory alkalosis:
Acute asthma
Hepatic failure
Pregnancy
Pneumonia
Lung disease
Pulmonary disease
Anxiety
Aspirin toxicity
Metabolic acidosis
CNS disease
Sepsis
Symptoms of respiratory alkalosis:
Deep rapid breathing
Lightheadedness
Dizziness
Agitation
Carpopedal spasm
Twitching
Tetany
Muscle weakness
Treatment for respiratory alkalosis:
Correct underline cause
Oxygen for acute episode of hypoxemia
Paper bag
Adjust tidal volume and minute volume (prevent hyperventilation)
Possible causes of respiratory acidosis:
Hyperventilation
CNS trauma
Cardiac arrest
Sleep apnea
Ventilator therapy
Airway obstruction
ARDS
Myasthenia gravis
Guillian Barre
Pneumothorax
Pneumonia
pulmonary edema
Symptoms of respiratory acidosis:
Restlessness
Confusion
Somnolence
Tremor
Coma
Headache
Papilledema
Tachycardia
Hypoxemia
Treatment for respiratory acidosis:
Treat underlying cause
 Possible causes of metabolic alkalosis:
Due to acid loss:
Vomiting
NG tube in place
Lavage
Fistula‘s
Massive blood transfusions
Cushing’s disease
Due to bicarbonate retention:
Intake of bicarbonate of soda
IV fluids with bicarbonate/lactate
Alteration in ECF electrolytes
Decreased potassium
Symptoms of Metabolic Alkalosis:
Decreased Cerebral Perfusion
Irritability
Picking at clothing
Twitching
Confusion
Decreased Potassium
Dysrhythmias
Decreased blood flow
Carpopedal spasm
Impending tetany
Treatment of Metabolic Alkalosis:
Replace losses with potassium and normal saline.
Stop diuretics.
Acetazolamide to increase excretion of bicarbonate.
Causes of Metabolic Acidosis:
Increased Acids:
DKA
Lactic Acidosis
Malnutrition
Starvation
Chronic Alcoholism
Bicarbonate Loss:
Diarrhea
Intestinal suction
Renal failure
Hyperaldosteronism
Aspirin intoxication
Symptoms of Metabolic Acidosis:
Headache
Malaise
Lethargy
CNS depression
Kussmaul breathing
Nausea
Vomiting
Warm skin
Flushed
Treatment for Metabolic Acidosis:
Na bicarbonate
Monitor electrolytes
IV administration
Mechanical ventilation
Antibiotics
Antidiarrheals
Characteristic Findings of ARDS:
Hypoxia
Dyspnea
Diffuse Bilateral Infiltrates
Pathophysiology of ARDS:
Increased permeability of alveolar/capillary membrane occurs from the release of chemical mediators, alveolar macrophages, and vasoactive substances.
Decreasing surfactant causes decreased lung compliance.
Atelectasis occurs causing severe respiratory distress and failure.
Manifestations of ARDS:
Tachypnea
Tachycardia
Hypoxia
Hypotension
Respiratory Distress
Restlessness
Cyanosis
Crackles
Bilateral infiltrates - “fluffy/ground glass appearance”
Treatment of ARDS:
-Supportive care is provided with intubation and mechanical ventilation with the addition of PEEP to maintain gas exchange (high frequency jet ventilation may be used).
-Correct things that might cause a shift to the left.
-Fluid balance must be monitored closely with a foley in place.
-Treat temperature.
-Treat infections and use high level of infection control techniques.
-Maintain hemoglobin level of at least 12-15gm/dL and correct factors that might cause a shift to the left.
Describe Asthma:
-Reversible obstructive pulmonary disease with intermittent episodes of bronchospasm. Rapid assessment is mandatory.
-Lymphocytes produce IgE in response to an allergen which attaches to the MAST cells (basophils) in bronchial walls which in turn releases chemical mediators.
If Asthma is not controlled what can it turn into?
Status Asthmaticus
-does not respond to conventional therapy.
- may lead to respiratory arrest.
Manifestations of Asthma:
- Wheezing on inspiration/expiration.
- Wheezing may not be present.
- Prolonged expiratory phase.
- Respiratory distress.
- Tachycardia
- Restlessness
- Pallor
- Exhaustion
Signs of impending respiratory failure in an Asthma patient:
- Decreasing oxygen saturation.
- Decreasing respiratory effort.
- Decreasing LOC.
- Increasing retention of Carbon Dioxide.
- Cyanosis
- Use of accessory muscles.
- Absence of wheezing.
Treatment of Asthma:
- Bronchodilators
- Corticosteroids
- Magnesium/Heliox
- Fluids
- Possible Intubation
- Monitor due to potential cardiac dysrhythmias.
- Peak flow monitoring before and after nebulizer treatments. (Normal 250-300. 100 is bad)
- Monitor ABGs:
- Hypoxemia will be present -pO2 <80mm Hg.
- Most patients will be hypocapneic due to hyperventilation.
- Hypercapnia will develop as condition worsens.
- Hypercapnia will create respiratory acidosis.
- Metabolic acidosis will occur from anaerobic metabolism.
What is Acute Bronchitis?
Inflammatory process that is usually viral (can have secondary Bacterial).
Manifestations of Acute Bronchitis:
- Dyspnea
- Wheezing
- Cough
- fever
- Chest/back pain
- malaise
- prolonged expiratory phase
- Rhonchi
- Neck vein distinction with chronic bronchitis.
Treatment for Acute Bronchitis:
- Aerosol treatments
- Postural drainage
- Oral fluids
- Bronchodilators
- Corticosteroids
-Antibiotics if secondary infection
What is Bronchiolitis?
- Lower respiratory tract infection with inflammation of airways in children under the age of 2 years.
- 90% is caused by RSV.
- Profuse secretions produce cellular debris and fibrin from a necrotic response which obstructs the bronchioles and bronchi leading to air trapping, high resistance, and atelectasis.
Manifestations of bronchiolitis:
- URI symptoms
- poor feeding
- irritability
- tachycardia
- decreased O2
- cyanosis
- cough
- vomiting
- decreased sleep
- wheezing
- changes in LOC
- tachypnea
- depressed fontanelle