Respiratory Pathology

Question 1

ARDS fatality

Answer 1

Fatal in 25-40% of people who develop it

Question 2

Survivors of ARDS may not regain full lung function for how long?

Answer 2

A year or greater

Question 3

Mechanical cause of ARDS

Answer 3

Fluid leaks from the smallest blood vessels in the lungs into the alveoli

*normally a protective membrane keeps fluid in the vessels, but INFLAMMATION undermines the membrane’s integrity

Question 4

Conditions that can damage the lungs and lead to inflammation and ARDS

Answer 4

• severe pneumonia
• sepsis
• heart failure
• multiple/massive blood transfusions
• serious head/chest injury
• fat embolism (long bone fx)
• prolonged use of large volumes of supplemental O2
• accidental inhalation of vomit or chemicals
• smoke inhalation
• near drowning
• adverse rxn to cancer drugs or other meds
• drug OD (commonly heroin)
• shock from any cause

Question 5

s/s of ARDS

Answer 5

• severe SOB
• labored and unusually rapid breathing
• hypotension
• confusion
• extreme fatigue
• cough
• fever

Question 6

Asthma etiology

Answer 6

• respiratory infections
• allergens
• cold air exposure (or sudden temp change)
• cigarette smoke

Question 7

Severe asthma attack sx

Answer 7

• dyspnea
• nostril flaring
• diminished wheezing
• anxiety
• cyanosis
• inability to speak

Can result in respiratory failure

Question 8

Two classes of meds used to treat asthma

Answer 8

• anti-inflammatory agents

- bronchodilators

Question 9

Asthma: anti-inflammatory agents

Answer 9

• interrupt bronchial inflammation

- PREVENTATIVE

Question 10

Asthma: bronchodilators

Answer 10

dilate the airways by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle

Question 11

Etiology of atelectasis

Answer 11

Conditions and factors that prevent deep breathing and coughing

Think post op pain, pleural effusion, asthma, COPD, CF

Question 12

Atelectasis: large area affected

S/s

Answer 12

• cyanosis
• SOB
• increased breathing rate
• increased HR

Question 13

What devices may be used to treat atelectasis?

Answer 13

• positive end-expiratory pressure device (PEEP)

- continuous positive airway pressure device

Question 14

PT treatments for atelectasis

Answer 14

• deep breathing
• position changes
• airway clearance techniques

Question 15

What causes bronchiectasis?

Answer 15

Bronchial walls weaken over time due to infection and allow for permanent dilation of bronchi and bronchioles

Question 16

Bronchiectasis s/s

Answer 16

• consistent productive cough
• hemoptysis
• weight loss
• anemia
• crackles
• wheezes
• loud breath sounds

Question 17

Meds for bronchiectasis

Answer 17

Antibiotics
Bronchodilators
Expectorants
Mucolytics

Question 18

Primary cause of chronic bronchitis

Answer 18

Cigarette smoke

Question 19

People with bronchitis compensate by

Answer 19

Use of accessory muscles while breathing

Question 20

Progression of COPD includes

Answer 20

alveolar destruction and subsequent air trapping

Question 21

COPD: characteristics of total lung capacity and residual volume

Answer 21

• Increased total lung capacity

- SIGNIFICANT INCREASE in residual volume

Question 22

S/s of COPD

Answer 22

• excessive mucus production
• chronic productive cough
• wheezing
• SOB
• fatigue
• reduced exercise capacity

Question 23

CF is an (genetic type) of disease

Answer 23

Autosomal recessive

Question 24

CF: mutation of the gene causes

Answer 24

Body produces unusually thick, sticky mucus that leads to life-threatening lung infections, obstructs the pancreas, and inhibits normal digestion and food absorption

Question 25

Characteristic s/s of CF

Answer 25

- salty tasting skin - persistent/productive cough - frequent lung infections - wheezing/SOB - poor growth/weight gain in spite of good appetite - frequent greasy, bulky stools

Question 26

Emphysema: deflation of alveoli

Answer 26

Alveoli are permanently deflated and dead space increases in the lungs

Question 27

Emphysema s/s

Answer 27

- SOB - wheezing - chronic coughing - orthopnea - BARREL CHEST - increased use of accessory muscles - fatigue Etc.

Question 28

Pleural effusion: excess fluid can cause

Answer 28

Can push the pleura agains the lung, making it hard to breath and can cause atelectasis in some cases

Question 29

Pleuritis is caused by

Answer 29

Viral infection Pneumonia PE Autoimmune diseases

Question 30

Pleuritis s/s

Answer 30

- SOB | - dry cough, fever, chills (if fluid becomes infected)

Question 31

Large pleural effusion may need this for treatment

Answer 31

Chest tube to drain fluid

Question 32

Cause of pneumonia

Answer 32

Bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infection

Question 33

Important consideration about acute pulmonary edema

Answer 33

Medical emergency

Question 34

Usual cause of pulmonary edema

Answer 34

Left sided heart failure: LV is unable to pump blood adequately As a result, pressure increases in the L atrium and then in the pulmonary veins and capillaries Causes fluid to be pushed through the capillary walls into the alveoli

Question 35

Pulmonary edema s/s

Answer 35

- extreme SOB - difficulty breathing - feeling of SUFFOCATING or DROWNING - anxiety/restlessness - blood-tinged sputum - rapid, irregular pulse - cyanosis - severe drop in BP

Question 36

PE s/s

Answer 36

- Sudden onset SOB - chest pain that gets worse with deep breathing, coughing, eating, or bending - coughing up bloody sputum

Question 37

Treatments for PE

Answer 37

- anticoagulants - thrombolytic agents *may require surgery to remove the clot or insert a filter into the inferior vena cava

Question 38

Prevention methods for PE

Answer 38

Compression stockings Pneumatic compression Physical activity Drinking fluids

Question 39

Treatment for pulmonary fibrosis

Answer 39

No treatment is effective at stopping the progression , but some may improve sx - corticosteroids - immunosuppressive drugs - pulmonary rehab *may need lung transplant

Question 40

RLD s/s

Answer 40

- dyspnea on exertion - persistent NON-PRODUCTIVE cough - increased RR - HYPOXEMIA and decreased vital capacity - abnormal breath sounds - reduced exercise tolerance