Week 2 Flashcards
Common Respiratory Conditions
Chest Infection Pneumonia Emphysema Dyspnoea Respiratory failure Asthma COPD
Stridor sounds like
High pitched noise on inspiration or expiration, indicates a disturbance to the airflow in the upper respiratory tract
Stertor sounds like
Snoring during sleep or altered consciousness
Wheeze sounds like
Whistling heard on expiration, indicates resistance to airflow in lower respiratory tract
Rattle sounds like
Heard on inspiration and expiration, associated with secretions in the lower respiratory tract (death rattle!)
investigation of respiratory disease
Blood tests FBC U&E Blood Gases Clotting Chest X-Ray CT/MRI ECG Respiratory Function Tests Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) Forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) Sputum Specimen Bronchoscopy
Hypoxaemic
decreased oxygen level in arterial blood
(ventilation-perfusion mismatch (? PE/atelectasis/pulm.oedema)
Circulatory
inadequate capillary blood flow
(decreased cardiac output/vascular obstruction/ cardiac arrest/shock)
What is asthma?
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways.
Asthma causes
hypersensitivity responsiveness
mucosal oedema
mucus production
Inflammation of the lungs leads to
chest tightness
wheezes
coughing
dyspnoea
To diagnose asthma a patient needs to have these symptoms:
wheeze and chest tightness
dyspnoea or cough
airflow limitation/ prolonged expiration
Positioning of a patient suffering an asthma attack
Nurse upright position in a chair or bed, this will increase lung expansion and may help relieve anxiety. tHIS CAN ALSO ASSIST IN GASEOUS EXCHANGE
Nasal Cannula
All age groups 1-5L/Min 2/3L Comfortable Nausea and vomiting Can dry mucous membranes LOW FLOW
Hudson Mask
6-8L/Min
Inexpensive
Comfortable
LOW FLOW
