Respiratory System Flashcards
What are we looking for in general inspection?
Shortness of breath, cyanosis, pallor, oedema, pursed lip breathing, accessory muscles of respiration, cough, wheeze, stridor, cachexia
What are the accessory muscles of respiration?
Scalenes, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, rectus abdominis muscle, diaphragm, internal intercostal muscle
Which lung conditions are often associated with wheezing?
Asthma, COPD, Bronchiectasis, Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
Shortness of breath in older patients most common causes
- COPD
- Fibrotic Lung Disease (non- black) / Asthma (black)
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pneumonia
Shortness of Breath in younger patients most common causes
- Asthma
- Covid- 19
- Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
- Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
- Pneumothorax
Use of accessory muslces in respiration common causes older patients
- Asthma
- COPD
- Bronchiectasis
- Fibrotic Lung Disease
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Use of accessory muscle causes in younger patients
- Asthma
- Lower Respiratory Tract Infection
- COVID- 19
- Pneumothorax
Most common causes of cyanosis in older patients
- Pulmonart Embolism
- Respiratory Failure
- Fibrotic Lung Disease
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pneumonia
Most common causes of cyanosis in children
- Pneumonia
- LRTI
- Asthma
- Pneumothorax
- COVID- 19
Most common causes of oedema in older patients - RESP
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Failure
- Asthma COPD overlap syyndrome
- Bronchiectasis
- Covid -19
Most common causes of oedema in younger patients RESP
- LRTI
- Asthma
- Covid- 19
- Pnuemonia
Most common causes of pallor in older patients RESP
- Pulmoary Embolism
- Respiratory Failure
- Fibrotic Lung Disease
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Covid - 19
Most common causes of pallor in young adult patients
- Pulmonary embolism
- Respiratory Failure
- Pneumonia
- Covid - 19
- Pnuemothorax
Most comon causes of cough and character s in older patients
- Bronchiectasis - persistent, productive cough
- Lower respiratory tract infection - could be productive or non -productive
- Pneumonia - Productive cough
- Asthma - Dry, Non- Productive
- Fibrotic Lung Disease- Dry, non productive, persistent
Most common causes of coughs in young adult patient and its character
- Asthma - dry, non- productive
- Covid - 19 - dry or productive
- LRTI - may or may not be productive
- Pneumonia - Productive cough
- Bronchiectasis - Persistant , productive cough
Most common causes of wheeze in older patients?
- Asthma - high pitched during inspiration and experation
- COPD
- Bronchiectasis
- Covid - 19
Most common causes of wheeze in young adults
- Asthma - musical sound primarily expiration
- LRTI
- Covid - 19
- Bronciectasis
Most common causes of stridor in oldr patients
- URTI
- Covid - 19
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Bronciectasis
- Tuberculosis
Most common causes of cachexia in older patients
- Fibrotic Lung Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Tuberculosis
- Bronchiectasis
- Covid -19
Most common causes of cachexia in young adults
- Covid - 19
- Tuberculosis
- Fibrotic Lung Disease
- Bromchiectasis
- LRTI
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs of Asthma
Symptoms:
Wheezing
Shortness of breath
Coughing, especially at night or early in the morning
Chest tightness
Clinical Signs:
Wheezing on auscultation
Use of accessory muscles during breathing
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs COPD
Symptoms:
Chronic cough
Sputum production
Shortness of breath, especially with exertion
Wheezing
Risk Factors:
Smoking
Long-term exposure to environmental pollutants (e.g., occupational dust, fumes)
Genetic factors (e.g., alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency)
Clinical Signs:
Prolonged expiratory phase on auscultation
Increased anterior-posterior diameter of the chest (barrel chest)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Bronchiectasis
Symptoms:
Chronic productive cough
Recurrent respiratory infections
Sputum production, often copious and purulent
Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
Risk Factors:
History of chronic respiratory infections
Cystic fibrosis
Immunodeficiency disorders
Clinical Signs:
Crackles and wheezing on auscultation
Clubbing of fingers (in chronic cases)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs URTI
Symptoms:
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Cough
Mild fever
Risk Factors:
Exposure to viruses (e.g., rhinovirus)
Poor hygiene or close contact with infected individuals
Seasonal changes or cold weather
Clinical Signs:
Nasal congestion
Pharyngeal erythema (redness of the throat)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Respiratory Failure
Symptoms:
Shortness of breath
Confusion or altered mental status
Cyanosis (bluish color of lips or extremities)
Fatigue
Risk Factors:
Chronic respiratory diseases (e.g., COPD, asthma)
Acute lung infections
Neuromuscular disorders affecting respiratory muscles
Clinical Signs:
Use of accessory muscles during breathing
Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels) or hypercapnia (high blood carbon dioxide levels)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Fibrotic Lung Disease
Symptoms:
Progressive shortness of breath
Chronic dry cough
Fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Risk Factors:
History of exposure to environmental toxins (e.g., asbestos, silica)
Smoking
Family history of interstitial lung disease
Clinical Signs:
Velcro-like crackles on auscultation
Digital clubbing (enlarged fingertips)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Pulmonary Embolism
Sudden shortness of breath
Chest pain, often sharp or pleuritic
Cough, sometimes with blood-streaked sputum
Lightheadedness or syncope (fainting)
Risk Factors:
Recent surgery or immobilization
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Prolonged periods of sitting or bed rest
Clinical Signs:
Tachycardia (rapid heart rate)
Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Pulmonary Hypertension
Symptoms:
Shortness of breath on exertion
Fatigue
Chest pain
Swelling in the ankles or legs
Risk Factors:
Chronic lung diseases (e.g., COPD, interstitial lung disease)
Left-sided heart disease
Connective tissue disorders (e.g., scleroderma)
Clinical Signs:
Elevated jugular venous pressure
Right-sided heart failure signs (e.g., edema, ascites)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Pneumonia
Symptoms:
Cough, often productive
Fever
Shortness of breath
Chest pain, often sharp or pleuritic
Risk Factors:
Age (very young or elderly)
Chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease)
Smoking or exposure to pollutants
Clinical Signs:
Dullness to percussion over affected areas
Crackles (rales) on auscultation
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs LRTI
Symptoms:
Cough, potentially productive
Fever
Shortness of breath
Chest discomfort
Risk Factors:
Viral or bacterial exposure
Poor immunity or chronic illness
Smoking
Clinical Signs:
Wheezing or crackles on auscultation
Tachypnea (rapid breathing)
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Pnuemothorax
Symptoms:
Sudden sharp chest pain
Shortness of breath
Cyanosis (in severe cases)
Decreased breath sounds on one side
Risk Factors:
History of lung disease (e.g., COPD, asthma)
Trauma or injury to the chest
Smoking
Clinical Signs:
Hyperresonance on percussion over the affected area
Decreased breath sounds on auscultation
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Covid - 19
Symptoms:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Risk Factors:
Recent exposure to infected individuals
Chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes)
Immunocompromised status
Clinical Signs:
Decreased oxygen saturation (hypoxemia)
Bilateral crackles or diminished breath sounds on auscultation
4 symptoms and 2 clinical signs Obstructivr Sleep Apnoea
Symptoms:
Loud snoring
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Choking or gasping during sleep
Difficulty concentrating
Risk Factors:
Obesity
Smoking
Family history of sleep apnea
Clinical Signs:
Obesity (often associated)
Elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
Oxygen therapy: What kind of delivery systems are commonly used. Rank in order of percentage oxygen highest to lowest.
List their flow rates
- Nasal Cannulae ( 1- 6 L/min) , Simple Face mask (6 - 10 L/min) , Partial Rebreather ( 6 -15 L/min) , Non - rebreather (15 L/min)
- Non - rebreather (90%) , rebreather (50 + %), simple face mask (30 + % ), nasal cannulae (24 + %)
Controlled oxygen therapy see picture
Phelgm colour guide
Yellow / Green - Infection
Pink/ Red/ Bloody - Infection or cancer
White - Allergy, Asthma or Viral
Charcoal/ Grey - Environmental
Brown - Chronic Lung Disease, Cystic Fibrosis , Bronchiectasis
