Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
Acute Respiratory Emergencies
-Hypoxia
-Near drowning
-Hyperventilation
-Choking
Respiratory Conditions
-Asthma
-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Emphysema)
-Croup
-Pulmonary Oedema
-Other Respiratory conditions
What is Hypoxia?
Low oxygen levels in the body
Hypoxia, causes?
-Reduced oxygen intake (drowning, suffocation, asthma, anaphylaxis)
-Low oxygen pressure (altitude sickness)
-Reduced or non functioning haemoglobin (significant blood loss, carbon monoxide poisoning)
-Reduced blood flow (heart failure, shock)
-Cell oxygen deficiency (poisoning, alcohol)
Hypoxia, Signs & Symptoms
-Drowsiness/ Aggression/ Irritability/ Altered Conscious State
-Lack of coordination
-Speech or vision problems
-Cool, pale or blue skin (cyanosis)
-SPO2 <92%
Hypoxia, Treatment
-Calm and reassure the patient
-Supplement oxygen (delivery dependent on SPO2)
Near Drowning, Facts
-Patient has inhaled water into their respiratory system which could inhibit gas exchange
-Salt/ Sea water may result in further complications after a near drowning
Near Drowning, treatment
-Scene safety - dangers
-Consider spinal care
-Calm and reassure the patient
-If conscious, encourage the patient to cough
-If unconscious, place in recovery positions and provide gentle back blows to expel water
-Manage airway and monitor patient
-Give high flow oxygen (Non-rebreather mask or Bag Valve Mask)
-Keep warm
Hyperventilation, Facts
-Fast breathing, when more carbon dioxide is exhaled faster than the oxygen in inhaled
-Can be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem
Hyperventilation, Causes
-Anxiety & emotional stress
-Exercise & medical conditions
-Significant underlying critical illness
Hyperventilation, Signs & Symptoms
-Tingling in fingers, toes & lips
-Rapid breathing & shortness of breath
-Feeling panicked
-Tachycardia & chest discomfort
-Light-headedness
Hyperventilation, Treatment
-Calm and reassure the patient
-Have the patient focus on their breathing (breath and count to 3)
-supplement oxygen is not required
Choking, Facts
-When a foreign body becomes lodged in the airway tract
-Partial obstruction Vs Full obstruction
Choking, Action
If able to effectively cough
-Encourage coughing
-No further intervention is required
-Monitor for clearance or deterioration
Choking, Action
IF conscious but unable to effectively cough
-Provide back blows (up to 5) and reassess
-If still obstructed, provide chest thrusts (up to 5)
-Monitor for clearance or deterioration
-Administer Oxygen therapy at 8L per minute
-IF obstruction remains alternate back blows, chest thrusts and reassessment
Choking, Action
IF unconscious or becomes unconscious but with pulse
-With patient supine perform 5 external chest compressions
-Assess for clearance of obstruction
-Re-assess for palpable pulse
-Attempt to ventilate patient with Bag Valve Mask
-Repeat alternating 5 compressions and 2 ventilations as req’d
-Use suction to assist as necessary
Choking, Action
IF pulse is lost or no pulse found
– manage as Cardiac Arrest C4
Choking, Stop
-Do not place fingers in patient’s mouth as this may cause bite reflex
asthma, facts
-Inflammatory disease of the airway that causes airways to become inflamed, narrow & swell &produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breath
-Symptoms of asthma are reversible but not curable
Asthma, Triggers
-Dust & Mites
-Pollen & Weather
-Smoking
-Exercise
_colds & Flu
-Animal Hair
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Facts
-Group of lung diseases that either block airflow or prevent gas exchange
-Emphysema
-Chronic Bronchitis
-Symptoms can present similar to Asthma and some patients can have asthma & COPD
-Past medical history is important to determine
-Patients with a long term history of smoking or chemical exposure should be considered to have COPD
Asthma & COPD, Signs and symptoms
Mild - Moderate
-Coughing
-Short of Breath
-Wheeze
-Rapid Breathing
-Tachycardia
*Speaking Full Sentences
Asthma & COPD, Signs and symptoms
Severe
-Anxious
-Wheeze
-Pale
-Struggling to breath
*Speaking in phrases or words
Asthma & COPD, Signs and symptoms
Life Threatening
-Silent Chest
-Exhaustion
-Altered Conscious State
-Unconscious
*Single words or cant speak
