Chapter 15 - Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

Acidosis

Answer 1

The build up of excess acid in the blood or body tissues that results 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 build up 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 (anaphylactic shock)

Answer 5

An extreme, life-threatening, systematic 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 bronchial is that usually occurs in children younger than two years and is often caused by the respiratory syncytial virus.

Question 10

Bronchitis

Answer 10

And acute or chronic inflammation of the lungs that may damage lung tissue; usually associated with cough and production of sputum and, depending on it’s 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 response to high blood levels of carbon dioxide.

Question 12

Carbon monoxide

Answer 12

And 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 infectious disease or irritants such a smoke.

Question 14

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Answer 14

A slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction.

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

Crackles

Answer 16

Crackling, rattling breath sound signaling fluid in the air spaces of the lungs; formerly called rales.

Question 17

Croup

Answer 17

And 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 18

Diphtheria

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Dyspnea

Answer 19

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Question 20

Embolus

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Emphysema

Answer 21

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 22

Epiglottitis

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Hay fever

Answer 23

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 24

Hyperventilation

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Hyperventilation syndrome (panic attack)

Answer 25

This syndrome occurs in the absence of other 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.

Question 26

Hypoxia

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Hypoxic drive

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Influenza type A

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Metered-dose inhaler (MDI)

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Orthopnea

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Oxygenation

Answer 31

The process of delivering oxygen to the blood.

Question 32

Pandemic

Answer 32

An outbreak that occurs on a global scale.

Question 33

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Pertussis (whooping cough)

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Pleural effusion

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Pleuritic chest pain

Answer 36

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 37

Pneumonia

Answer 37

An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.

Question 38

Pneumothorax

Answer 38

A partial or complete accumulation of air in the pleural space.

Question 39

Pulmonary edema

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Pulmonary embolism

Answer 40

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 41

Respiration

Answer 41

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Question 42

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

Answer 42

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 spreads through droplets.

Question 43

Rhonchi

Answer 43

Coarse breath sounds heard in patients with chronic mucus in the airways.

Question 44

Small-volume nebulizer

Answer 44

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 45

Stridor

Answer 45

A harsh, high-pitched, barking inspiratory sound often heard in acute laryngeal (upper airway) obstruction.

Question 46

Tuberculosis (TB)

Answer 46

A disease that can lay dormant in a persons lungs for decades, then reactivate; many strains are resistant to antibiotics. TB is spread by cough.

Question 47

Ventilation

Answer 47

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

Question 48

Vesicular breath sounds

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Wheezing

Answer 49

Hey high-pitched, whistling breath sound, characteristically heard on expiration in patients with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.