Unit 7 - Respiratory Emergencies Flashcards
What are the average respiration rates at rest
Adult: 12-20 resp./min
Child: 16-24 resp./min
Baby: 30-40 resp./min
If a casualty is breathing at a rate +30 or -10 they need intervention
What will happen if someone stops breathing for 0 minutes
Breathing stopped - heart will stop soon
Heart will stop w/in 2 mins of someone not breathing
What will happen if someone stops breathing for 0-4 minutes
Clinical death
4+ min: Biological death
What will happen if someone stops breathing for 4-6 minutes
Brain damage possible
What will happen if someone stops breathing for 6-10 minutes
Brain damage likely
What will happen if someone stops breathing for 10+ minutes
Irreversible brain damage certain
Hypoxia
insufficient oxygen reaching cells
- cause: cyanosis, decrease in LOR, RR & HR
Anoxia
Total lack of oxygen
Eupnea
normal breathing
Apnea
Cessation of breathing, or absence of breathing
Dyspnea
Difficult or laboured breathing
respiratory distress
refers to breathing that becomes difficult or labored
respiratory arrest
when breathing completely stops
s/s of respiratory emergencies
- abnormal RR, skin conditions, and breathing rates
- dyspnea (SOB)
- confused, restless, anxious (emotional effects)
- change in LOR
- unable to cry, speak, etc
causes of respiratory emergencies
trauma,
inhaled toxins,
low-oxygen environment(high alt),
airway obstruction,
neurological conditions,
poor circulation,
lung infection
Illnesses
Excess fluid in lungs or lung blood vessels
Factors of lack of available oxygen
environmental (high altitude)
displacement by gases (CO, CO2, etc)
consumption (confined space)
airway obstruction
- anatomical: tongue, swollen mouth from allergies
-foreign body (FBAO): teeth, blood, food, mouth guard
Partial Blocked Airway
can still move air in and out of lungs
- cough, speak, cry
- get them to cough
complete blocked airway
cannot move air in/out of lungs
- cannot cough, cry, speak
- respiratory distress>arrest>cardiac arrest
- 5 back blows + 5 thrusts (conscious)
- CPR (unconscious, known) w/ 1 breath return to CPR if breath doesn’t go in
- CPR (conscious, unknown) check airway 2 breaths, then CPR and 1 breath until it goes in
what causes abnormal heart and lungs
- illness
- trauma to c-spine, diaphragm, head, chest
- drug overdose or poison
- compromised respiratory system leads to hypoxia!!
anaphylactic shock
aka anaphylaxis
- severe allergic reaction (life threatening)
- blood vessels dilate -> profound low BP -> cardiac collapse
- swelling of airway prevent air passage
anaphylaxis triggers
- skin contact (plants, animals, pollen, latex)
- injection (bee sting)
- ingestion (medication, nuts, shellfish)
- inhalation (pollen, dust, animal hair, mold)
s/s of anaphylaxis
- skin rash (small cluster) / hives (large)
- itching
- weakness
- nausea/vomit
- dizzy
- dyspnea
- tightness in chest and throat
- swell of face/neck/tongue
immediately occur or after 30 minutes
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- permanent damage of bronchiole tubes, alveoli
- difficult exhalation
- increase CO2; decrease O2
- lung lose their ability to function
3 clinical conditions:
- emphysema
- chronic bronchitis
- bronchospasm
s/s of COPD
- SOB, gasp for air
- sit upright, leaning forward
- barrel chested
- cyanosis
- JVD
- ronchi (labored breathing)
- prolong exhalation thru pursed lips
Emphysema
is a COPD
- alveoli lose elasticity and become distended w trapped air
- lungs cannot exchange CO2 and O2
s/s of emphysema
- SOB
- difficult exhale
- cough
- cyanosis
- fever more than 104
- finger clubbing
- restlessness
- confusion
- weakness
chronic bronchitis
is a COPD
- inflammation of bronchiole tubes
- excessive mucous in tubules cause restricted pathway causing dyspnea
S/s of chronic bronchitis
triggered by smoke, pollutants
- SOB
- cough w sputum
- cyanosis
bronchospasm
is a COPD
- affect terminal bronchioles
- small airway swell, fill w fluid, surrounding muscles constrict
- SOB, wheezing
acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- increase fluids in alveolar membrane and surrounding pulmonary capillaries
- leads to less CO2 absorbed by RBC
S/S of ARDS
- tachypnea
- pulmonary edema
- cyanosis
- SOB
asthma and its triggers
inflammatory process resulting in narrowing of air passage
triggers: allergies, emotional stress, cold weather, phys activity
Asthma S/S
- wheezing on exhalation (airway is constricted and traps air in)
- recurring dyspnea
- chest tightness
- sputum
- cough
- chest tightening
- tingling
management of asthma
control/prevent symptoms
- decrease exposure to allergens
Drug therapies:
- inhaled corticosteroids (treat inflammation, pre-treatment)
- bronchodilators: relax or relief bronchiole muscles (immediate treatment)
Side effects of bronchodilators
- tremor, nervousness, dizziness, headache, nausea, tachycardia
- should see HR increase
- 8% have paradoxical bronchospasm
- 3% have muscle cramps, muscle spasm, dilated pupils
pneumonia
group of illnesses with fluid/pus filled alveoli resulting in hypoxia. caused by bacteria or irritants (smoke, vomit)
S/S of Pneumonia
- dyspnea
- tachypnea
- pleuritic chest pain
- cough with pus
- fever over 100F
- chills
- nausea
- vomit
- headache
- muscle aches
acute pulmonary edema
fluid back up in pulmonary veins and leaks into alveoli; oxygen enter blood decreases
- caused by trauma to heart or lungs
s/s of acute pulmonary edema
-SOB
- rapid, labored breathing
- cyanosis
- restless, anxious
- exhaustion
- tachycardia (increased HR)
- cool, clammy skin
- frothy sputum
pulmonary embolism
blockage in R side of heart into pulmonary circulation; blockage piece from somewhere else in body:
- thrombus from lower limb vein
- fat
- air
- amniotic fluid
- tumor tissue
s/s of pulmonary embolism
SOB
cough
pain
anxiety
syncope (faint)
hypotension
cool and clammy
tachycardia
fever
JVD
hyperventilation
tachypnea upsets O2 and CO2 balances
Caused by:
- fear/anxiety
- head injury/hemorrhage/illness (LT)
- heart failure (LF)
- metabolic (LF)
- asthma
- exercise
S/S of hyperventilation
shallow, rapid breathing
- dizzy.
- n/t in fingers, toes, tense and nervous
respiratory emergency treatments
- O2 admin
- maintain normal body temperature (heat or cool them)
- comfortable position for resting (semi-fowler position)
- reduce environment heat/humidity (block rain/sun)
key points of respiratory arrest
- life threat
- cause: choke, ill, injured
- often preceded by respiratory distress
- other body systems will begin to fail (lack of O2)
