Respiratory System #2 Flashcards
(47 cards)
What is intercostal indrawing?
A pulling inward of the soft tissues between the ribs upon inhalation. This is a sign of increased use of the chest muscles for breathing and is a manifestation of respiratory distress
What is Epiglottis?
The flap that covers the trachea during swallowing so that food does not enter the lungs
What is uvulitis?
Uvulitis is inflammation of the uvula. This is the small tongue-shaped tissue that hangs from the top of the back part of the mouth.
Threat to a patients airway patency = what?
A threat to their life
What is the supine position?
Laying flat
What is erect positioning?
Sitting upright
What is the SNS response?
Under conditions of stress, the entire sympathetic nervous system is activated, producing an immediate widespread response called the fight-or-flight response. These include changes in blood flow to muscle and skin, as well as changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), sweat release, and pupil diameter
What is normotension?
Normal blood pressure
What is eGFR?
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): It is a measure of how well your kidneys filter blood.
What is DVT prophylaxis? (primary and secondary)
Primary prophylaxis is the preferred method with the use of medications and mechanical methods to prevent DVT. Secondary prophylaxis is a less commonly used method that includes early detection with screening methods and the treatment of subclinical DVT.
What does Prophylaxis mean?
treatment given or action taken to prevent disease.
What is DVT?
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs. These blood clots can break free and travel throughout your blood stream and have the potential to become lodged in your lungs causing a pulmonary embolism
What is Pleuritic pain?
sharp chest pain (pleuritic pain) that worsens during breathing caused by inflammation of the two large and thin layers of tissue that seperate your lungs from your chest wall
Pleuritic pain will cause what? (in terms of VQ ratio)
It will contribute to alveolar hypoventilation (hypercapnia - inc CO2), decreasing gas exchange)
What is Alveolar hypoventilation?
Alveolar hypoventilation is defined as insufficient ventilation leading to hypercapnia
What is opioid analgesia?
The condition is characterised by a paradoxical response whereby a patient receiving opioids for the treatment of pain could actually become more sensitive to certain painful stimuli.
What can opioid analgesia do to a patients vital signs?
Lower their respiratory rate and LOC.
What does COPD stand for?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
What is Emphysema?
Emphysema is a chronic lung condition in which the air sacs (alveoli) may be: Collapsed Destroyed Narrowed Overinflated Stretched
Overinflation of the air sacs is a result of a breakdown of the alveoli walls. It causes a decrease in respiratory function and breathlessness. Damage to the air sacs can’t be fixed. It causes permanent holes in the lower lung tissue. This is part of a group of lung diseases called COPD.
What are the two most common types of COPD?
The 2 most common conditions of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
why is it bad the emphysema causes the alveoli to expand?
Because this is due to a loss of elasticity hence the alveoli loses its ability to recoil in expiration resulting in CO2 being “trapped” increasing aveolar PCO2.
What happens when there is a rise of alveolar PCO2?
This is often due to Emphysema and means CO2 cannot diffuse readily from pulmonary capillaries causing a build up in arterial blood (hypercapnia)
If the surface area of a alveoli is reduced what will happen?
Gas exchange will reduce between alveoli and pulmonary capillaries leading to hypoxaemia and hypercapnia
What does acute exacerbation mean?
an acute and transient worsening of preexisting symptoms in patients
