Surgical Skills Flashcards
What is the correct order for assessment of the posterior chest?
inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
What is the purpose of posterior chest auscultation?
to detect airflow within the resp. tract.
When is posterior chest auscultation performed?
every 4 hours and PRN on a stable post-op pt. and may be performed frequently with abnormal resp. findings
Where can bronchial sounds be heard?
over the trachea
Describe bronchial sounds
high pitched loud sounds like air blowing through a follow pipe. short I and long E
Describe bronchovesicular sounds
medium pitch and intensity. blowing sound. = I and E
Where can bronchovesicular sounds be heard?
main bronchi
Describe vesicular sounds
soft low pitched gentle rustling sound. best heard on inspiration. I longer than E
Where can vesicular sounds be heard?
Best heard at best of lungs. can be heard in all lung areas except major bronchi.
Describe crackles
crackling sound like hair near ear. best heard on inspiration but can be heard on both I and E
Cause of crackles
air passing through fluid which may indicate fluid or mucous in air passage
Rhonchi (gurgles)
continuous low pitched rumbling, snoring, gurgling or rattling sounds. best heard on E but can be heard both I and E
Cause of rhonchi (gurgles)
air passing through a narrowed passage. may be a result of secretions, tumors. Ex. pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Wheezes
continuous high pitched musical sounds. best heard on E but can be heard on I as condition worsens
Cause of wheezes
air passing through a constricted bronchus as a result of secretions, swelling, tumors. Ex. asthma, airway obstruction
Emphysema
chronic pulmonary condition in which the air sacs (alveoli) are dilated and distended
Adventitious breath sounds
air passes through narrowed airways or airways filled with fluid or mucous when pleural linings are inflamed
Pleural Space
The potential space between the visceral and parietal layers of the pleurae. The space contains a small amount of fluids that acts as a lubricant, allowing the pleurae to slide smoothly over each other as the lungs expand and contract with respiration
Pleural Effusion
An abnormal accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural spaces of the lungs. The fluid is an exudate or a transudate from inflamed pleural surfaces and may be aspirated or surgically drained. May result from pulmonary infarction, trauma, tumor, or infection (TB).
Assessment data pleural effusion
dyspnea, chest pain, adventitious lung sounds (crackles), non-productive cough.
TNI pleural effusion
administer ordered medications (corticosteroids, diuretcs, vasodilators), oxygen therapy, intermittent positive-pressure breathing, or use of a pleurx catheter
Subcutaneous emphysema
The presence of air or gas in the subcutaneous tissues. The air or gas may originate in the rupture of an airway or alveolus and migrate though the subpleural spaces to the mediastinum and neck.
Assessment data subcutaneous emphysema
swollen face, chest, neck. painful skin tissues and may produce a crackling/popping sound as air moves under them. dyspnea, cyanosis is air leak is severe.
Treatment for subcutaneous emphysema
an incision to release the trapped air (aerodermectasia)
Thoractomy
a surgical opening into the thoracic cavity
Mediastinal shift
The mediastinum is the part of the thoracic cavity that is in the middle of the thorax, between the pleural sacs containing the two lung. Extends from the sternum to the vertebral column and contains all of the thoracic viscera except the lungs. A shift is when the contents in the mediastinum shift to where they are not supposed to be(like in the case of lung removal they will shift to the side of the remaining lung)
Waterseal drainage
three compartments that collect and drain the fluid or air without allowing air to backflow into the tube
Purpose of turn, cough, deep breath exercises
prevents atelectasis, improves lung expansion, helps expel anesthetic gases and respiratory secretions, facilitates oxygenation of tissues, improves venous return, allows full respiratory expansion and promotes GI peristalsis
Atelectasis
characterized by the collapse of alveoli, preventing the respiratory exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen in a part of the lungs. symptoms may include diminished breath sounds or aspiratory crackles, a mediastinal shift toward the side of the collapse, fever, and increasing dyspnea. may be caused by obstruction of the major airways and bronchioles, by compression of the lung as a result of fluid or air in the pleural space or by pressure from a tumor outside the lung
How often should TCDB exercises be done?
10 times every 1-2 hours during waking hours for first few post-op days
When are coughing exercises contraindicated?
head and/or neck injuries
TNIs for TCDB
explain rationale of TCDB to patient/family, teach how to perform activity with return demonstration pre-op, reinforce activity post-op beginning in PACU, medicate before doing exercises prn
Purpose of incentive spirometer
to promote a series of voluntary sustained maximal inspirations which improve ventilation and prevent atelectasis
How often should an incentive spirometer be used?
every 1-2 hours while awake for the first few days post-op
Define mist therapy
provides moisture to inspired air, decreases the viscosity of secretions and makes secretions easier to remove. If the mist is heated it increases the capacity of air to hold moisture. heated mist provides 100% humidy, cool mist provides 40% humidity
Define nubulization
The process of adding particulate water mist or fine particles of medication to inspired air. This may be done by rapidly passing air through a liquid at a high frequency. The goal is to improve the clearance of resp. secretions. it is often used to the administration of bronchodilators or mucolytic agents.
Assessments with nubulizers
lung sounds, RR, and o2 sat before and after each treatment
Purpose of mist therapy and nebulizer treatments
provides moisture to inspired air (mist), decreases viscosity of secretions and makes secretions easier to remove (mist), delivers medications VIA fine spray (fog or mist) (nebulizer)
State the difference between heated mist and cool mist therapy
heated = 100% humidity. cool= 40% humidity