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NUR2226 Exam Revision > Week 2-Respiratory System > Flashcards

Week 2-Respiratory System Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the primary purpose of the respiratory system?

A

Gas exchange – providing oxygen to the body and removing carbon dioxide.

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2
Q

Define ventilation in respiratory physiology.

A

Ventilation is the movement of air in and out of the lungs, driven by pressure changes caused by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

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3
Q

What is perfusion in the respiratory system?

A

Perfusion refers to blood flow through the pulmonary capillaries to facilitate gas exchange.

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4
Q

What does diffusion refer to in the lungs?

A

Diffusion is the movement of gases (O₂ and CO₂) across the alveolar-capillary membrane based on concentration gradients.

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5
Q

Describe the role of pulmonary circulation in gas exchange.

A

It transports deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart for systemic circulation.

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6
Q

What is the pathophysiology of asthma?

A

Asthma involves chronic airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and mucus hypersecretion, leading to reversible airway obstruction.

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7
Q

What are common symptoms of asthma?

A

Wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, coughing, and tachycardia.

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8
Q

What inflammatory mediators are released during an asthma attack?

A

Histamine, interleukins, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and nitric oxide.

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9
Q

What is the pathophysiology of COPD?

A

COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema (air sacs are damaged), leading to inflammation, alveolar damage, mucus buildup, and airflow obstruction.

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10
Q

What are key symptoms of COPD?

A

chronic cough, sputum production, breathlessness, wheezing, and chest tightness.

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11
Q

What causes air trapping in COPD?

A

Loss of alveolar elasticity impairs expiration, trapping air in the lungs and causing hyperinflation.

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12
Q

What is pneumonia?

A

Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the alveoli, filling them with fluid or pus and impairing gas exchange

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13
Q

What are the clinical signs of pneumonia?

A

Fever, chills, cough with sputum, dyspnoea(Laboured breathing), chest pain, fatigue, and low SpO₂.

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14
Q

What are the four main components of a respiratory assessment?

A

Inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

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15
Q

What is observed during respiratory inspection?

A

Breathing rate, rhythm, effort, chest movement, and skin colour.

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16
Q

What is palpation used for in respiratory assessment?

A

To assess chest expansion and tactile fremitus (vibrations).

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17
Q

What does percussion tell you during respiratory assessment?

A

It helps identify areas of lung consolidation, air, or fluid by changes in sound.

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18
Q

What do wheezes and crackles indicate?

A

Wheezes suggest narrowed airways (e.g., asthma), while crackles suggest fluid (e.g., pneumonia).

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19
Q

What are SABAs and their role?

A

Short-acting beta2-agonists provide quick relief from bronchospasm. Example: Salbutamol.

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20
Q

Name some long-acting beta2-agonists (LABAs).

A

Salmeterol, Formoterol, and Indacaterol.

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21
Q

What are anticholinergics used for in respiratory care?

A

To relax airway muscles and decrease mucus. E.g., Ipratropium (short-acting), Tiotropium (long-acting).

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22
Q

Name corticosteroids used for inflammation in asthma and COPD.

A

Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Methylprednisolone, Dexamethasone.

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23
Q

What are mast cell stabilisers used for?

A

Maintenance treatment of asthma and COPD. E.g., Cromoglycate, Lodoxamide.

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24
Q

Which antibiotics are commonly used for respiratory infections?

A

Penicillins, cephalosporins, and tetracyclines.

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25
What are nursing interventions for asthma?
Administer bronchodilators, monitor oxygen, reduce triggers, provide education, and reassess frequently.
26
What nursing care is essential in COPD?
Oxygen therapy, medication management, breathing exercises, smoking cessation, and nutritional support.
27
How should nurses manage a patient with pneumonia?
Antibiotics, oxygen therapy, hydration, frequent assessments, and encourage deep breathing and coughing.
28
What steps should be taken during respiratory deterioration?
Use the DRSABCDE approach, perform a focused respiratory assessment, apply oxygen, and escalate care.
29
What is a priority action during an acute asthma exacerbation?
Administer salbutamol, apply oxygen, and perform immediate assessment while escalating care as needed.
30
What are the signs that a patient’s asthma is worsening?
Increased RR, use of accessory muscles, inability to speak full sentences, hypoxia (Low o2), anxiety.
31
Who are essential interprofessional team members for managing respiratory illness?
Doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, pharmacists, and dietitians
32
How is SpO₂ monitored and why is it important?
With a pulse oximeter. It helps detect hypoxia early and guide oxygen therapy.
33
What is theophylline and when is it used?
It’s a rarely used bronchodilator with narrow therapeutic range, reserved for severe or resistant asthma/COPD.
34
What is the role of education in asthma management?
Teaching patients to identify triggers, use inhalers correctly, and follow action plans improves self-management and outcomes.
35
What is the DRSABCDE approach?
Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure – used for structured emergency assessment.
36
What structural changes occur in the lungs during an asthma attack?
There is swelling of the airway lining, tightening of the smooth muscles (bronchoconstriction), and increased mucus production, all leading to airway obstruction.
37
What causes wheezing in asthma?
Wheezing is caused by turbulent airflow through narrowed bronchi, leading to high-pitched sounds, particularly on exhalation.v
38
What is the role of mast cells in asthma?
When exposed to triggers, mast cells release inflammatory mediators like histamine and leukotrienes, causing inflammation and bronchospasm.
39
Why is asthma considered a heterogeneous disease?
Because it presents differently in different individuals, with varying triggers, severity, and response to treatment.
40
In COPD, what are the two main pathological conditions?
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
41
How does chronic bronchitis affect the lungs?
It causes persistent inflammation of the bronchi, leading to mucus overproduction, chronic cough, and airway narrowing.
42
How does emphysema impair gas exchange?
It destroys alveolar walls, reducing surface area and capillary beds, which limits oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange.
43
Why does air trapping occur in COPD?
Because damaged alveoli lose their elasticity, making it hard to exhale fully, resulting in retained air and lung hyperinflation.
44
What is pneumonia and how does it impair breathing?
Pneumonia is an infection that fills alveoli with fluid and inflammatory cells, reducing oxygen diffusion and leading to breathlessness.
45
What does an altered conscious state suggest in a respiratory assessment?
Potential hypoxia or hypercapnia affecting cerebral function.
46
What does the inability to speak in full sentences indicate?
Severe respiratory distress and significantly compromised ventilation.
47
What does a hunched or tripod posture suggest?
The person is using accessory muscles to breathe and is likely in severe distress.
48
What does paradoxical chest movement indicate?
Severe fatigue and respiratory failure; the chest moves in when the patient inhales, instead of expanding.
49
What does cyanosis mean?
It’s a late sign of hypoxaemia, indicating critical oxygen deprivation.
50
How is respiratory rate used to assess severity?
<25 bpm = mild/moderate distress; >25 bpm = severe; bradypnoea suggests impending respiratory arrest.
51
How does heart rate guide assessment of severity?
<110 bpm = mild/moderate; >110 bpm = severe distress; bradycardia (Slow) is a pre-arrest sign.
52
What does a silent chest or reduced air entry signify?
Life-threatening asthma with little to no airflow due to severe obstruction.
53
What does SpO₂ below 90% indicate?
Life-threatening hypoxaemia requiring urgent intervention.
54
What is the mechanism of β2-adrenergic agonists?
They relax bronchial smooth muscle by stimulating β2 receptors, increasing airway diameter.
55
What do anticholinergic bronchodilators do?
They block muscarinic receptors, reducing bronchoconstriction and mucus secretion.
56
What are corticosteroids used for in respiratory care?
They suppress inflammation, reduce mucus production, and help restore airway patency.
57
List three common corticosteroids used in asthma or COPD.
Prednisolone, Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone.
58
What is the role of mast cell stabilisers in asthma?
They prevent the release of inflammatory mediators and are used for prophylaxis.
59
When are theophyllines used in respiratory care?
Rarely, as a second-line bronchodilator in severe or refractory asthma/COPD due to side effects.
60
What is the mechanism of penicillin antibiotics?
They inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to bacterial death.
61
What should patients know about taking antibiotics?
Finish the full course, watch for allergic reactions, follow food guidelines, and report side effects.
62
What IV medication can be used for severe life-threatening asthma?
Magnesium sulfate – it helps relax bronchial muscles and is used when bronchodilators are ineffective.
63
When is adrenaline used in asthma management?
When the patient is unresponsive to inhaled bronchodilators or is peri-arrest.
64
What is the pathological sequence of lung cancer development from carcinogen exposure?
Exposure to carcinogens → dysplasia of lung epithelium → genetic mutation → impaired protein synthesis → malignant transformation.
65
What is the pathophysiological process in asthma following exposure to a trigger?
Trigger factor → airway inflammation → bronchoconstriction → narrowed airways → wheeze and dyspnoea.
66
What is the process of pneumonia development and resolution?
Infection leads to congestion → inflammatory response → consolidation of lung parenchyma → exudate formation → lysing of exudate → resolution with cleared alveoli.
67
What is the pathophysiological progression of COPD?
Inhalation of noxious particles → chronic inflammation of airways → parenchymal destruction (emphysema) → pulmonary vascular changes → airflow limitation and gas exchange impairment.
68
How is COPD best described?
A heterogeneous disease characterised by chronic airway inflammation that leads to progressive airflow limitation, with symptoms of dyspnoea, cough, chest tightness, and wheeze.
69
Complete the description: “The slow progressive obstruction of the airways with periodic ________ and increased periods of ________ and ________ production.”
Exacerbations; dyspnoea; sputum
70
Which oxygen delivery device operates at 0.5–4 L/min, delivering 24–40% O₂, and is suitable for stable COPD patients?
Nasal prongs
71
Which oxygen device operates at 5–10 L/min, delivering 40–60% O₂, for patients with mild respiratory distress or shock?
Hudson Mask
72
Which oxygen device operates between 2–60 L/min, delivering 21–60% O₂, and prevents drying?
Humidified high flow oxygen
73
Which oxygen delivery device provides 60–90% O₂ at 10–15 L/min and is used for hypoxaemic patients?
Non-rebreather mask
74
Which oxygen device delivers 90–100% O₂ at 15 L/min and is used in resuscitation or critical care settings?
Bag-valve mask (BVM) or Hudson mask with reservoir (non-bagged, held over the patient)

NUR2226 Exam Revision (7 decks)

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