Respiratory Emergency Flashcards
Upper airway disease
Laryngeal obstruction
Tracheal obstruction
Laryngeal obstruction
Causes: edema (trauma), foreign body, tumors, laryngeal paralysis
Clinical signs: exercise intolerance, gagging while eating or drinking, laryngeal stridorà cyanosis, collapse
Treatment: oxygen supplementation (glucocorticoids, removal of FB, surgery)
Tracheal obstruction
Causes: collapse, tumor, foreign body
Clinical signs: repeated coughing, high-pitched respiratory noise, respiratory distress
Tracheal ring have smooth muscle at the top
The negative pressure causes the trachea to collapse
Treatment of Collapsing trachea
Antitussives, antiinflammatories, bronchodilators
Surgery
Feline bronchial disease
Disease characterized by inflammation of bronchi leading to mucosal edema, smooth muscle hypertrophy, excessive mucus secretions, and bronchoconstriction
Thought to be caused by inhaled allergens, irritants, or infectious agents
Clinical signs of Feline bronchial disease
respiratory distress, coughing and wheezing (heard on auscultation)
Diagnose and treatment of Feline bronchial disease
Thoracic radiographs, endotracheal or transtracheal wash, bronchoscopy
Treatment: Oxygen supplementation, bronchodilators, glucocorticoids
Pneumonia
Disease characterized by inflammation of the lung tissue leading to fluid accumulation in the alveoli and small airways
Cause: microbial infection, aspiration, chemical irritation
Clinical signs of Pneumonia
+/-fever; severe cough; rapid, labored respiration, abnormal lung sounds on auscultation
Diagnosis and Treatment of Pneumonia
Diagnosis: radiographs, transtracheal wash
Treatment: antibiotics, oxygen supplementation
Pulmonary contusion
bleeding into alveolar and interstitial space
Pulmonary edema
fluid accumulation in lung parenchyma
Pneumothorax
presence of free air in the thoracic cavity
Hemothorax/Chylothorax
presence of blood/lymph in thoracic cavity
Diaphragmatic hernia
presence of abdominal organs in the thoracic cavity
