Bronchopulmonary Hygiene Flashcards
(148 cards)
Normal Airway Clearance
Patent Airway
Functional Mucociliary Escalator-When the muscus travels up the epithelium via cilia to be expelled
Effective cough
Retention of Secretions
Retention of Secretions can lead to a full or partial airway obstruction
If pathogens are present retention of secretions can result in secretions
Compounding these problem may be a failure in the cough reflex
In patients with retained secretions, interference with any one of the cough’s four phases can result in ineffective airway clearance
Partial Obstruction
Restricts airflow
Will increase WOB which will lead to air trapping, overdistension, and ventilation/perfusion imbalances
Full Obstruction
Muscus plugging
Atelectasis and imparied oxygenation due to shunting
Hypoxic Vasoconstriction
Compensatory mechanism for shunt, will decrease blood flow to portion of lung and in turn increased pulmonary vascular resistance which can inpact the heart (very important when pt. has heart problems)
What are the 4 phases of a Cough
1) Irritation
2) Inspiration
3) Compression
4) Expulsion
Irritation Phase of the Cough
Something is bugging your lungs and you can sense it
A stimulus will trigger airway sensory recpetors, sending impulses to the brain’s medullary cough center
Causes can be-Inflammatory (cough), mechanical (sputum, foreign bodies), chemical (irritating gases such as cigarette smoke), and thermal (cold air)
Mechanisms that Impair Irritation Phase of a Cough:
Anesthesia
CNS depression
Narcotic-analgesics
Inspiration Phase of a Cough
In response to afferent impulses, the cough center will reflexively stimulate the inspiratory muscles to initiate a deep inspiration (1-2L)
Mechanisms that Impair Inspirtion Phase of a Cough
Pain
Neuromuscular dysfunction
Pulmonary restriction
Abdominal restriction
MAP and MIP-Maximial expirator pressure and maximum inspirtory pressure
Vasalva manuever
Compression Phase of a Cough
Compression-Closure of the glottis (vocal cord snap shut) in order to generate pressure
A reflex nerve will cause the glottis to close and the expiratory muscles to contract
Pleural and alveolar pressures increase rapidly.
This compression phase is normally about 0.2 second and results in a rapid rise in pleural and alveolar pressures, often in excess of 100 mm Hg.
Mechanisms that impair compression in a cough
Laryngeal nerve damage
Artificial airway
Abdominal muscle weakness
Abdominal surgery
Expulsion Phase of a Cough
The glottis opens, causing a large pressure gradient between the alveoli and the airway opening.
Expiratory muscles continue to contract.
The pressure gradient causes a high-velocity gas flow that displaces the mucus from the airway walls and into the air stream.
A violent, expulsive flow of air from the lungs, with velocities as high as 500 miles per hour.
Mechanisms that impair expulsion
Airway compression
Airway obstruction
Abdominal muscle weakness
Inadequate lung recoil (e.g., emphysema)
Patient may be unable to adequately clear secretions if:
There is loss of airway control
Increased secretion production or thickened secretions due to abnormal lung pathology
Inadequate cough
Causes of Impaired Mucociliary Clearance in Intubated Patients
Endotracheal or tracheostomy tube Intubated patients
Tracheobronchial suction
Inadequate humidification
Drugs
General anesthetics
Opiates
Narcotics
Underlying pulmonary disease
Mucocillary Clearerance in Intubated Patients
- The tube’s presence in the trachea
- increases mucus secretion
- the tube cuff mechanically blocks the mucociliary escalator.
- movement of the tube tip and cuff can cause erosion of the tracheal mucosa and further impair mucociliary clearance.
- endotracheal tubes impair the compression phase of the cough reflex by preventing closure of the glottis
- Although suctioning is used to aid secretion clearance, it, too, can cause damage to the airway mucosa and thus impair mucociliary transport.
- We have suction pressure on muciliary lining which can cause damage in itself
- The cuff will obstruct the secretions and will take away the glotic closure takign away the ability to create a high pressure coug
Suctioning
Removal of secretions or other semi-liquid fluids from the airways using mechanical aspiration.
Application of negative pressure (vacuum) to the airways through a collecting tube (flexible or rigid catheter).
Removal of foreign bodies, secretions, or tissue masses beyond the mainstem bronchi requires bronchoscopy.
Upper airway is verythign above the glottis
Indications for Suctioning
- Coarse or absent Br/S on auscultation
- An ineffective spontaneous cough
- Visible secretions in the airway
- The need to stimulate a cough in patients unable to cough effectively secondary to changes in mental status or the influence of medication (cough effort)
- Changes on Xray consistent with retained secretions-
- atelectasis or consolidation
- When we come to this point the patient may need a therapeutic bronchoscopy not just a suctionist
- Changes in monitored flow/pressure graphics
- Increased peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) on volume-control ventilation (VCV)
- Decreased tidal volume (Vt) on pressure control ventilation (PCV)
- Suspected aspiration of gastric or upper airway secretions
- Clinically apparent increased WOB
- Resp rate & pattern
- Changes in oxygenation- This is one of our big indications that suctioning is needed
- Colour
- Saturation (pulse oximetry)
- ABG
- Endotracheal tube aspirate
- Patency check
What does coarse mean?
Very thick secretions may not move with airflow and thus may not create any adventitious sounds.
If they are able to cough we may only need to assist them in the cough instead of a full deep suctioning
Indications
- Crackles or diminished breath sounds
- You can see it on the vent waveform
•
True or False Is suction routinely Done on a Schedule
False
Contraindications to Suctioning
Most contraindications are relative to patient’s risk of developing adverse reactions or worsening clinical condition as a result of procedure
When indicated, there are no absolute contraindications for endotracheal suctioning
If we do not clear secretions it can kill the patient, which is why there are only relative contraindications
Ex.When we cough we are increasing ICP which can be dangerous in TBI patient, what we can do to help this is to administer Lidocaine or even paralyze them in order to blunt their cough during suctioning
Suction Equitment
- Adjustable suction source/collection system
- Sterile suction catheter
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Sterile glove(s)
- Goggles, mask, and gown (standard precautions)
- Sterile basin
- Sterile bulk saline
- Some clinican use water some prefer saline as it is an isotonic
- Sterile saline for instillation
- Oxygen delivery system (BMV or ventilator)
Types of Suction Regulators
- Continuous suction regulators: Either on or off
- Adjustable from 0 to –200 mmHg
- Intermittent suction regulators: Designed to cycle from on to off
- Cycle time & suction can be adjusted
- Three preset ranges (don’t need to memeorize know that we have it and you don’t use it for invasive suctioning)
- Low 50- 70 mmHg
- Medium 80- 100 mmHg
- High 110- 130 mmHg
- Older application: gastric tubes
- Latest application of intermittent suction: surgical drainage
Collection System
Used to collect waste…
Prevent contamination of suction regulator/ suction machine
Contains valves to protect system from overflow
Valves interrupt suction when container full

