Respiratory Emergencies (Ch. 16)

Question 1

acidosis

Answer 1

The buildup of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that can result from a primary illness.

Question 2

adventitious breath sounds

Answer 2

Abnormal breath sounds such as wheezing, stridor, rhonchi, and crackles.

Question 3

alkalosis

Answer 3

The buildup of excess base (lack of acids) in the body fluids.

Question 4

allergen

Answer 4

A substance that causes an allergic reaction.

Question 5

anaphylaxis

Answer 5

An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.

Question 6

asthma

Answer 6

An acute spasm of the smaller air passages, called bronchioles, associated with excessive mucus production and with swelling of the mucous lining of the respiratory passages.

Question 7

atelectasis

Answer 7

Collapse of the alveolar air spaces of the lungs

Question 8

bronchial breath sounds

Answer 8

Normal breath sounds made by air moving through the bronchi.

Question 9

bronchiolitis

Answer 9

Inflammation of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than 2 years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.

Question 10

bronchitis

Answer 10

An acute or chronic inflammation of the lung that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on its cause, sometimes fever.

Question 11

carbon dioxide retention

Answer 11

A condition characterized by a chronically high blood level of carbon dioxide in which the respiratory center no longer responds to high blood levels of carbon dioxide.

Question 12

carbon monoxide

Answer 12

An odorless, colorless, tasteless, and highly poisonous gas that results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion.

Question 13

chronic bronchitis

Answer 13

Irritation of the major lung passageways from long-term exposure to infectious disease or irritants such as smoke.

Question 14

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Answer 14

A lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible.

Question 15

continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Answer 15

A method of ventilation used primarily in the treatment of critically ill patients with respiratory distress; can prevent the need for endotracheal intubation.

Question 16

COVID-19

Answer 16

A respiratory disease caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. The virus is a coronavirus, similar to the one that causes the common cold.

Question 17

crackles

Answer 17

Crackling, rattling breath sounds that signal fluid in the air spaces of the lungs.

Question 18

croup

Answer 18

A viral inflammatory disease of the upper respiratory system that may cause a partial airway obstruction and is characterized by a barking cough; usually seen in children.

Question 19

diphtheria

Answer 19

An infectious disease in which a pseudomembrane forms, lining the pharynx; this lining can severely obstruct the passage of air into the larynx.

Question 20

dyspnea

Answer 20

Shortness of breath.

Question 21

embolus

Answer 21

A blood clot or other substance in the circulatory system that travels to a blood vessel where it causes a blockage of blood flow.

Question 22

emphysema

Answer 22

A disease of the lungs in which there is extreme dilation and eventual destruction of the pulmonary alveoli with poor exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide; it is one form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Question 23

epiglottitis

Answer 23

A bacterial infection in which the epiglottis becomes inflamed and enlarged and may cause an upper airway obstruction.

Question 24

hay fever

Answer 24

An allergic response, usually to outdoor airborne allergens such as pollen or sometimes indoor allergens such as dust mites or pet dander; also called allergic rhinitis.

Question 25

hyperventilation

Answer 25

Rapid, usually deep, breathing that lowers the blood carbon dioxide level below normal.

Question 26

hyperventilation syndrome

Answer 26

This syndrome occurs in the absence of physical problems. The respirations of a person who is experiencing hyperventilation syndrome may be as high as 40 shallow breaths/min or as low as only 20 very deep breaths/min. This syndrome is often associated with panic attacks.

Question 27

hypoxia

Answer 27

A dangerous condition in which the body tissues and cells do not have enough oxygen.

Question 28

Hypoxic Drive

Answer 28

A condition in which chronically low levels of oxygen in the blood stimulate the respiratory drive; seen in patients with chronic lung diseases.

Question 29

influenza type A

Answer 29

Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching a pandemic level with the H1N1 strain.

Question 30

metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Answer 30

A miniature spray canister used to direct medications through the mouth and into the lungs.

Question 31

orthopnea

Answer 31

Severe dyspnea experienced when lying down and relieved by sitting up.

Question 32

oxygenation

Answer 32

The process of delivering oxygen to the blood by diffusion from the alveoli following inhalation into the lungs.

Question 33

pandemic

Answer 33

An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.

Question 34

paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Answer 34

Severe shortness of breath, especially at night after several hours of reclining; the person is forced to sit up to breathe.

Question 35

pertussis (whooping cough)

Answer 35

An airborne bacterial infection that affects mostly children younger than 6 years. Patients will be feverish and exhibit a “whoop” sound on inspiration after a coughing attack; highly contagious through droplet infection.

Question 36

pleural effusion

Answer 36

A collection of fluid between the lung and chest wall that may compress the lung.

Question 37

pleuritic chest pain

Answer 37

Sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that is worsened by a deep breath or other chest wall movement; often caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura.

Question 38

pneumonia

Answer 38

An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.

Question 39

pneumothorax

Answer 39

An accumulation of air or gas in the pleural cavity.

Question 40

pulmonary edema

Answer 40

A buildup of fluid in the lungs, often as a result of congestive heart failure.

Question 41

pulmonary embolism

Answer 41

A blood clot that breaks off from a large vein and travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.

Question 42

respiration

Answer 42

The process of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 43

respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Answer 43

A virus that causes an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses that affect the lungs or heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. RSV is highly contagious and spread through droplets.

Question 44

rhonchi

Answer 44

Coarse, low-pitched breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the upper airways.

Question 45

small-volume nebulizer

Answer 45

A respiratory device that holds liquid medicine that is turned into a fine mist. The patient inhales the medication into the airways and lungs as a treatment for conditions such as asthma.

Question 46

stridor

Answer 46

A harsh, high-pitched respiratory sound, generally heard during inspiration, that is caused by partial blockage or narrowing of the upper airway; may be audible without a stethoscope.

Question 47

tuberculosis (TB)

Answer 47

A contagious disease that attacks the lungs and that can remain dormant in a person’s lungs for decades, then reactivate; many strains are resistant to antibiotics. TB is spread by cough.

Question 48

ventilation

Answer 48

Exchange of air between the lungs and the environment, spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from another person, such as an EMT.

Question 49

Vesicular breath sounds

Answer 49

Normal breath sounds made by air moving in and out of the alveoli.

Question 50

wheezing

Answer 50

A high-pitched, whistling breath sound that is most prominent on expiration, and which suggests an obstruction or narrowing of the lower airways; occurs in asthma and bronchiolitis.