Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
Diffusion
Getting oxygen into blood
Ventilation
Getting oxygen to the lungs
Perfusion
Getting oxygen into tissue
Ventilation problems
Upper/lower airway obstruction
Chest walls impairment
Neurogenic dysfunction
Chest walls impairment most commonly found in ….
Trauma pt.’s
Causes of Neurogenic dysfunction
Drugs (depressants, mainly those that depress the respiratory SyS)
CVA
Diffusion problems
Inadequate O2 in ambient air(hypoxia)
Alveolar pathology
Interstitial space pathology(fluid into lung)
Inadequate O2 in ambient air causes
Fire smoke
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon dioxide poisoning and etc.
Alveolar pathology
Lung disease
Inhalation or inspiration Injury
Perfusion problems
Inadequate blood volumes or Hgb levels
Impaired circulating blood flow
Capillary blood pathology
Some causes of inadequate blood volumes or Hgb levels
Shock
Anemia
What are some causes of impaired circulating blood flow
Pulmonary Embolism( plugged pulmonary artery)
What kind of pt. is relevant to capillary blood pathology
Trauma pt.
What is another word for inhalation
Inspiration
What is another word for exhalation
Expiration
Inspiration means
An active process that uses the contraction of several muscles to increase the size of the chest cavity
S/S of SOB
ALOC Tachycardia Bradycardia Change's in RR Changes in respiratory Rhythm Changes in skin signs NBIOB Inability to speak in complete sentences Accessory muscle use Retractions Coughing Flared nostrils(children) Pursed lips(adults) What position are they in?
S/S of SOB for children is
Flared nostrils
S/S of SOB in adults is
Pursed lips
What is the first sign of ALOC
Nervousness and Irritability
Pt. assessment review
ABC’s
OPQRST
check for:JVD, accessory muscle use, lung sounds, abdominal discomfort/distention, pedal edema
Lung sounds
Wheezes, crackles(rales), Rhonchi(lung butter), stridor
Lung sound: Wheezes
High pitched sounds when air moves through narrowed passages
Lung sound: Crackles (rales)
Fine crackling or bubbling caused by fluid in alveoli
Lung sound: Rhonchi (lung butter)
Caused by secretions in the lower airway
Lung sound: stridor
High pitched sound in upper airway often partial obstruction
Expiration means
A passive process that involves the relaxation of the rib muscles and diaphragm
what is an adequate rate for artificial ventilation for adults
12 breathes per minute
what is an adequate rate for artificial ventilation for infants and children
20 breathes per minute
What do we use in the patient for gathering history when the C/C is pain
OPQRST
What is CPAP?
Special mask that blows low pressured O2 into lungs
What does CPAP do?
- Prevents alveoli from collapsing at the end of exhalation
2. Pushes fluid back into capillaries
What conditions would you use CPAP?
- Fluid in lungs(drowning, pulmonary edema)
2. Obstructive diseases (asthma, COPD)
When do you not use CPAP?
- ALOC(the need to protect ones own airway)
- Lack of respiratory drive
- Inability to sit up
- Hypotension (systolic >90)
- Inability to maintain tight seal w/mask
- Vomiting
- Penetrating chest trauma
- Shock
- GI bleeding
What is a pulmonary edema?
It is where fluid forms in the lungs (alveoli)
What is a pulmonary embolism?
It’s a condition where the pulmonary artery gets blocked by a blood clot.
What causes pulmonary edema?
- Heart problems( like CHF) or left heart failure
- Near drowning
- Smoke inhalation
- Toxic chemical inhalation
- Traumatic chest injuries
- Altitude ilnesses
What does lumen mean?
It is the diameter of the blood vessel
Edema?
The increase of interstitial fluid in an organ
In a pulmonary edema water can form in the ….
Interstitial space in the lungs or the alveolar sacs
How can a puomary edema get into place?
Because the lung is absorbing the effects of the heart failure
The most common reason for pulmonary edema is
The inefficiency of the left heart so that it can’t pump blood to the rest of the body as efficiently as it once disarms so the fluid and the pressure backs up and squishes water into the alveolar sacs
Asthma pathophysiogy is mainly the
Lumen in the bronchioles decreasing in diameter creating an asthma attack
Emphysema pathophysiology is mainly
The alveolar sac elastic cells
Being damaged and not being able to get bigger and smaller according to exhalation and inhalation
Bronchitis pathophysiology is mainly
An over production of mucus being produced trying to get rid of the irritating particles causing a tissue change in the bronchioles by producing more glands in the bronchioles space
What are the three S’s for asthma
- Excessive mucus production
- Spasm of bronchiolar muscles
- Secretions
What 3 drugs can EMT administer?
- Oxygen
- Oral glucose
- Aspirin( not in California)
What are the3 drugs EMT’s can help assist with?
- Bronchodilators
- Epinephrine
- Nitroglycerin
What is venostasis?
Trapping of blood due to compression of veins
What is CF
Is where the chloride and sodium combination don’t match up and they mess up the respiratory and digestive tract and CLOGS THE GLANDS FROM SECRETING
How does CF damage the respiratory tract
Because mucus has a connection with chloride and by having the mixtures wrong they can develop thicker mucus
How can CF damage the digestive tract
Clogs up the pancreas and liver so that they can’t secrete or secrete thick mucus to where that organ can’t do its job
