Term
|
Definition
| may arise from a variety of neurologic and metabolic disturbances, many of which are reversible. In this pattern, periods of rapid, irregular breaths start shallow then become deeper then shallow, alternating with periods of apnea. The cycle repeats every 30 sec to 2 mins, with 5 to 30 sec periods of apnea. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| S/S: a harsh, high-pitches sound heard on inhalation, characteristic of the tight upper airway obstruction (ie: laryngeal edema). The "seal bark" of the child with croup provides some idea of how alarming this sound can be. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| S/S: intercostal retraction of the suprasternal spaces during inhalation is a cardinal sign of repiratory distress. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Nasal flaring, tracheal tugging, retraction of the intercostal muscles on inhalation, use of the abdominal muscles in exhalation, cynosis (unreliable sign since severe hypoxemia may be present without cyanosis being manifested) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| S/S: Fine, moist sounds, sometimes crackling or bubbling in quality associated with fluid in the smaller airways (ie: pulmonary edema, pneumonia, congestive heart failure). It is important to auscultate the bases of the lungs posteriorly for these are the areas where the rales of pulmonary edema are usually heard. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| results in not only quadriplegia but also in paralysis of the diaphragm and some repiratory muscles. |
|
|
Term
| Most common repiratory obstruction |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Conscious choking: If victim can speak on breath encourage them to cough. If not, then administer up to five abdominal thrusts.
Conscious to unconscious choking: place supine. Open the airway and do a finger sweep. Attempt to ventilate. Administer up to five abdominal thrusts, do a finger sweep. Continue until the airway is cleared.
Uncoscious choking: Establish unreponsiveness, activate 9-1-1. Open the airway, attempt to ventilate, reposition the head and re-ventilate. If unsuccessful, administer up to 5 abdominal thrusts, do a finger sweep. Continue up the foreign object is expelled. |
|
|
Term
| Causes of Upper airway obstruction |
|
Definition
| Tongue, foreign bodies, swelling of the upper airway structures, trauma to the airway, mandible collapse, hemorrhage, tongue injury, aspiration of tissue, teeth or dentures, asssociated with coma. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| S/S: "Pink Puffers". Distention of the air sacs (groups of alveoli) beyond the bronchiole with destructive changes in their walls. Shows evidence of weight loss & general history of increasing dyspnea on exertion. The cough is usually non-productive and not prominant. The ABC's are within normal limits. Chest is barrel-shaped & hyperresonate to percussion, owing to air trapped within the lungs. The patient is short of breath and often purses lips on exhalation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| "Blue bloaters". Excessive mucous production in the bronchial trees with a chronic or recurrent productive cough. History of cigarette smoking. The patient is generally somewhat obese with a bluish complexion. Tends to have abnormal ABG's with pCO2 elevated (hypercarbia) and a decreased pO2 (hypoxemia). Often associated with right heart failure (cor pulmonade). Examination reveals coughing an rales, rhonchi and wheezes heard throughout the chest. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Patient found sitting up, often leaning forward and fighting to breathe. They may be coughing spasmodically and unproductively. Use of the respiratory accessory muscles is prominant and the chest is relatively fixed in the inspiratory position. Wheezing is usually quite audible, even without a stethoscope. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| S/S: Absent wheezes and the chest is hyperresonant to percussion due to air trapped within the lungs. Prolonged attack connot be broken with epinephrine. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
S/S: pain usually localized to the site of the injury and made worse with deep breathing, couging or movement. Paradoxical chest movement (often best appreciated by palpation), expanding or bulging out during expiration and collapsing during inhalation.
TX: open airway, apply high-flow O2 assidted with BVM. Stabilize the flail segment (ie: patient lie on affected side), EKG monitor. NOTE: Positive pressure breathing can worsen a simple pneumothorax or convert it to a tension pneumothorax. Chest decompression is accomplished with a catheter and flutter valve. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Seen in young, tall, thin males. The patient complains of a sudden sharp chest pain and sudden dyspnea following strenuous exertion, coughing or air travel. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| characterized by decreased or absent breath sounds and hyperresonance on the side of the collapsed lung. The trachea may be deviated toward the side of the collapse. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Tracheal deviation away from the side of the tension pneumothorax. Extreme dyspnea. Restlessness and anxiety. The pulse is weak and rapid. The BP is often low. There may be marked jugular vein distention. Breath sounds are diminished on the side of the pneumothorax, and there is hyperresonance to percussion on that side. The affected side appears more expanded than the unaffected side, and moves less with breathing efforts. Subcutaneous emphaysema. |
|
|
