Upper Respiratory Problems ( Nose & Paranasal Sinsues ) Flashcards
Problems of the nose and paranasal sinuses
What is deviated septum?
Deflection or shift of the nasal septa
What is the most common cause of a deviated septum?
Tramua
What does deviated septum interfere with? (2)
Interferes with airflow and sinus drainage
What are the minor symptoms of deviated septum? (3)
None
Congestions
Frequent infections
What are the 4 severe symptoms of a deviated septum?
Irritation, Facial pain, nosebleed, obstruction
What is the diagnoses of deviated septum?
Speculum exam
What are the 2 deviated septum treatments?
Decongestants
Analgesia
What is the severe medication/treatment for deviated septum?
Septoplasty
What is a nasal fracture?
Fracture to the nose
What is the most common cause of a nasal fracture? And example?
Tramua
A ball hitting the person face
What are the complications of a nasal fracture?
(5)
Obstruction
Nosebleed
Meningeal tears with CSF leaks
Septal hematoma
Deformity
What is a simple nasal fracture mean?
Little displacement
What is a complex nasal fracture mean? And we want to evaluate for what (3)
Damage to adjacent structures
Evaluate for injury of cervical spine
, Orbital bone, mandible
What are the manifestations of a nasal fracture?(7)
Deformity
Nosebleed
Pain
Crepitus
Swelling
Difficulty breathing through nose
Ecchymosis
What is periorbital ecchymosis? And want to evaluate what?
Raccoon eyes ( black eyes ) ( bilateral )
Evaluate for basilar skull fracture
What’s the most important thing to watch out for in a nasal fracture?
That if they take a hit to the face, the the fluid they leak out is CSF
What is a basilar skull fracture?
Both eyes are like raccoon like, black eyes
How do you want to check for leak of CSF in a nasal fracture?(7)
And it’s called what
If you take a little drop of nasal drainage and put it on a piece of gauze
You’ll see, center is blood
Then get another ring around that it’s yellow, serus color which is the spinal fluid
Blood will stain the middle and
coagulate together
But on the gauze you’ll see this ring around it, which is called a halo sign
And that could indict that the drainage is cerebral spinal fluid
Which means there is a tear in the meningitis
What’s another way you check for cerebral spinal fluid leak other than on the gauze?
Bedside Glucose stick/test
Which would register that there glucose present at a higher rate
Which indicates it’s CSF
What are tools we can use to help straighten the nose after a nasal fracture?(2 names )
Ash forceps
Walsham forceps
When a patient has a nasal fracture what position do you want the patient to be in? And why?
Sitting up because you don’t want them to swallow that blood which could eventually make them vomit
The patient sits up right for a nasal fracture, what’s another thing the nurse will instruct the patient to do?(2)
Pinch their nose together and apply ice
What are the 3 nursing care for a nasal fracture?
Patent airway
Prevent complications
Emotional support