From the atmosphere, what structures does air pass through during ventilation?
Starts in atmosphere, then nose, nasopharyngeal space/orophargyneal space
... [Show More] (if mouth breather), then pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
What is the purpose of the nasal passages and nasopharynx?
To warm/humidify air as it passes through
What is the difference between respiration and ventilation?
Respiration refers to the exchange of gases in the alveoli, ventilation refers to the movement of air into the lungs. Respiration is needed to provide O2 to cells and remove waste products. Also regulates pH of blood.
What are the structures of the upper airway?
nose, mouth, tongue, jaw, pharynx and larynx
What structure is considered a landmark that divides the upper airway from lower?
The larynx, anything above is upper. The larynx and below are lower.
What are the structures of the lower airways?
larynx (includes adam's apple/thyroid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, cricoid cartilage), trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli
Describe the anatomy of the larynx.
From superior to inferior. Thyroid cartilage, cricothyroid membrane, and cricoid membrane. The thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage are anterior to the larynx, and the cricothyroid membrane is posterior to both structures.
True or false: the lungs are completely equal in the midsaggital plane.
False, right lungs has 3 lobes, left lung only has 2 lobes. Together they have 5 total. Also, the right bronchi is inferior to the left bronchi.
What are the structures of the lungs in order of ventilation?
bronchioles, and alveoli
True or false: the lungs use muscles found in the lateral lobes to expand and contract?
False: the lungs are hollow organs and contain no muscles. When the diaphragm contracts it expands the thoracic cavity. The pleural space has a negative pressure and the lungs expand. This results in a slightly negative pressure (compared to the atmosphere) and air rushes in.
True or false: Air rushes into the lungs because of negative pressure.
True, when the lungs expand, they are creating a vacuum because they are expanding the volume of the container. This increase in volume causes influx of air into the container until the pressure is equalized with the atmosphere.
True or false: The parietal pleura lines the lungs and the visceral pleura lines the lungs. The space between is called the anterior pleura.
False: the visceral pleura lines the lungs, the parietal pleura lines the body cavity and the pleural space is the space in between both where body fluid allows for both to smoothly glide.
What muscles are involved in inhalation?
The diaphragm, cervical muscles (neck), intercostals, abdominal muscles, and pectoral muscles.
What muscles are involved in expiration?
none, expiration (if done passively) is achieved by the relaxation of the diaphragm.
What is the primary driver of respiration? (Why would we increase/decrease RR?)
The CSF in the brain has chemoreceptors sensitive to CO2. When there is too much CO2. The pH changes. These sensors feed back to the medulla oblongata, which stimulates the phrenic nerve which innervates the diaphragm. They cause an increase in activity of the diaphragm. This increases the RR which causes us to increase tidal volume. This means more CO2 is exhaled. And brings our pH back to normal.
We also have the less sensitive hypoxic drive
What is hypoxic drive?
Backup system to control respiration. Chemoreceptors in brain, aorta, and carotid arteries. But they are "satisfied" by a small amount of O2, which means it is not as sensitive as pH control of CO2
What two areas of the brain are involved in respiration?
medulla-controls rhythm, initiates inspiration, sets base pattern for respirations, and stimulates diaphragm to contract.
pons-changes depth of inspiration, expiration or both.
True or false: arteries bring oxygenated blood to organs/capillaries
True in most cases with one exception. Arteries (away) bring blood away from the heart. Usually this is oxygenated blood. But the pulmonary arteries bring oxygen poor blood away from the heart, to the lungs to be oxygenated.
What is the tidal volume?
amount of air moved in/out of lungs in single breath. Usually 500 ml in adult
What is inspiratory reserve volume?
Deepest breath you can take after normal respiration
What is expiratory reserve volume/Vital Capacity?
maximum amount you can breathe out after normal breath.
What is residual volume?
Remaining gas in lungs after exhalation. This is to keep lungs inflated
What is dead space? What structures are considered part of dead space?
Part of respiratory system not involved in active respiration. Air moves through here but little to no respiration occurs. Mouth, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles considered dead space
What is minute volume? What does it measure?
Minute volume = RR x tidal volume. Volume of air moving through lungs in 1 minute. Can be estimated quickly. Count RR rate. If normal check to see chest rise and fall (tidal volume). If chest rise and fall is weak and/or little air coming out of nose, then the person has small minute volume.
Alveolar Minute Volume
Volume of air moved through lungs in 1 minute minus the dead space. Alveolar Minute Volume = (tidal volume - dead space) x RR
Alveolar Ventilation
Volume of air that reaches alveoli.
Alveolar ventilation = tidal volume - dead space
Name the characteristics of normal breathing
1. Normal rate (12-20)
2. regular pattern of inhalation/exhalation
3. clear bilateral lung sounds
4. regular and equal chest rise/fall
5. adequate depth (tidal volume)
What are the characteristics of inadequate breathing (adults)?
Chapter 6
1. labored breathing (activating accessory muscles of respiration)
2. 12< or >20 breaths/minute
3. muscle retractions above clavicles or between ribs and below rib cage
4. pale/cyanotic skin
5. cool, damp, clammy skin
6. tripod position
Chapter 10
1. 12< or 20>
2. irregular rhythm
3. diminished, absent or noisy auscultated breath sounds
4. reduced flow of expired air at nose/mouth
5. unequal or inadequate chest expansion
6. labored breathing
7. shallow depth
8. pale, cyanotic, cool or moist skin
9. retractions around ribs or above clavicles
What are agonal gasps? What should you do if a pt has agonal gasps?
Pt in cardiac arrest has occasional gasping breaths because respiratory center in brain continues to send signals to breathing muscles. Artificial ventilations and chest compressions.
Where are the alpha-1 receptors located? What is their effect?
location-blood vessels
constricted blood vessels, skin is pale, cool, clammy
They essentially increase BP
Where are the Beta-1 receptors located? What is their effect?
location-heart
effect- increased HR, increased force of contraction
They essentially increase CO since CO = HR x SV
Where are the Beta-2 receptors located? What is their effect?
location - lungs (beta-2 is beta-tube)
effect - bronchodilation (more air enters lungs)
Where are the muscarinic receptors located? What is their effect?
location - heart
effect - decreased HR, decreased force of contraction
Muscarinic is parasympathetic system and do complete opposite of Beta-1 which is sympathetic
What hormones activate the sympathetic nervous system?
Epineprhine and norepineprhine, which are released from he adrenal gland after stimulation by the sympathetic nervous system. These hormones stimulate heart and blood vessels.
What is pathophysiology?
Study of how normal physiologic processes are affected by disease
What is respiratory compromise?
Inability of body to move gas effectively. Can result in decreased O2 (hypoxia) and increased CO2 (hypercarbia)
What factors can impair ventilation?
1. Obstruction
a. foreign objects - toys, food, teeth tongue etc
b. physiological - induced by asthma, allergic rxns, infection
2. Impairment
a. brain injury - to medulla/pons
b. breathing muscles - diaphragm,
c. nerves - neuromuscular disease like cerebral palsy can affect phrenic nerve
3. Other factors
a. drugs - opioids can reduce RR
b. loss of consciousness - can cause impaired ventilation
c. trauma to chest wall - impair expansion of lungs
What factors can impair respiration?
1. air (too little O2, too much CO2, toxins like CO)
2. impaired movement of gas across cell membrane (due to fluid in alveoli, mucus or other secretions)
3. Blood vessels become clogged (pulmonary embolism)
What is the V/Q ratio?
How much gas is being moved effectively, versus how much blood is flowing around the alveoli where gas exchange (perfusion occurs)
example - pt w/ pulmonary embolism might have regular ventilation, but blockage might impair exchange or perfusion. So Q is compromised.
What happens in the body when there is respiratory compromise?
1. O2 levels fall and CO2 levels rise
2. Brain detects increase in CO2
3. Body increases RR to try to manage CO2 levels
4. If increased respiration does not clear CO2, then blood is acidic
5. Blood o2 levels begin to fall, activating hypoxic drive
6. Cells that are able switch to anaerobic metabolism, producing lactic acid which further drops pH
Glottis
Space between vocal cords and narrowest portion of adult's airway. Lateral borders of glottis are the vocal cords. They contain defense reflexes that protect lower airway, and spasm to prevent foreign substances from entering trachea
Carina
The branching area of the left and right bronchi
Mediastinum
Area between the lungs which is surrounded by tough connective tissue. Contains heart, great vessels, esophagus, trachea, major bronchi and nerves.
What is the term used to describe the amount of gas in air or dissolved in fluid? How is this relevant to ventilation? How is this relevant to respiration?
Partial pressure of gas, measured in mmHg.
When lungs expand, partial pressure of air is less than that in atmosphere. Air rushes in during ventilation.
Inhalation
In oxygen rich lungs, PO2 > PO2 oxygen poor blood. O2 diffuses across alveoli into blood.
In CO2 rich blood, PCO2 > PCO2 of lungs so CO2 diffuses from blood to lungs, and then is exhaled out
What does it mean if someone says they are "keeping the airways patent"?
Keeping airway patent = maintaining open airway so air can enter/leave lungs freely
How is regulation of breathing different in those with COPD? What does research indicate about assisting in respiration with COPD sufferers?
COPD sufferers have difficulty removing CO2 from body. Overtime, respiratory control centers in brain adjust to this new baseline of CO2. In late stage COPD hypoxic drive is activated. Some research suggests that providing high flow O2 could negatively affect body's drive to breathe.
What is Dyspnea?
Shortness of breath
Signs and symptoms of Hypoxia?
Early
1. Restlessness
2. Irritability
3. apprehension
4. tachycardia
5. anxiety
Late
1. mental status changes
2. weak (thready) pulse
3. cyanosis
4. Dyspnea
Cellular respiration (Metabolism)?
Cells take energy from nutrients through series of chemical processes.
What is the difference between external and internal respiration?
External - process of breathing fresh air into respiratory system and exchanging O2 and CO2 between alveoli and blood in pulmonary capillaries
internal - exchange of oxygen and CO2 between systemic circulatory systems and cells of body
What are the critical periods in which a cell needs O2?
0-1 minute: cardiac irritability
0-4 minute: brain damage not likely
4-6 minute: brain damage possible
6-10 minute: brain damage likely
more than 10: irreversible brain damage
What is intrapulmonary shunting? What is the cause of it?
It's when blood enters lungs from right side of heart bypasses alveoli and return to left side of heart in unoxygenated state. Can be caused by nonfunctional alveoli due to diseases
What factors can lead to hypoxia due to circulatory compromise?
1. obstruction of blood flow due to
a. pulmonary embolism
b. pneumothorax
c. heart failure
d. cardiac tamponade
2. Decreased ability of blood to carry O2
a. blood loss
b. anemia
c. shock (vasodilatory shock)
What is labored breathing? How do you tell someone has it?
Pt with inadequate breathing may appear to be working hard to breathe.
Look for use of accessory muscles which are not used during normal breathing
What are Cheyne-Stokes Respirations? What do they indicate?
Irregular respiration where pt breathes w/ increasing rate/depth that is followed by apnea, followed again by period of increasing rate/depth of respiration.
Can occur in people with strokes/head trauma
What are ataxic respirations?
When pt has irregular ineffective respirations that may or may not have identifiable pattern
What are Kussmaul respirations? What do they indicate?
Deep, rapid respirations
Seen in pt's with metabolic acidosis, or those with diabetes
You arrive on scene with a pt that is conscious but experiencing respiratory distress. What are two devices that can assess their respiration?
1. Pulse oximetry (measures O2 bound to hemoglobin)
2. Capnography device (measures end tidal CO2)
How would you use a pulse oximeter?
1. clean pt's finger, and remove nail polish as needed. Place finger into probe and turn on.
2. Palpate radial pulse to ensure accuracy and correlation w/ pulse ox
Normal reading between 98-100. Less than 90% pt requires treatment unless chronic condition. Oxygen applied when SPO2 drops below 94%
What can cause an inaccurate pulse ox?
1. Hypovolemia
2. Severe peripheral vasoconstriction (chronic hypoxia, smoking or hypothermia)
3. Time delay in detecting respiratory insufficiency
4. Dark/metallic nail polish
5. Dirty fingers
6. CO poisoning
You encounter an unconscious pt. They have a pulse but inadequate breathing. What should you do if they are a) found in their bed or b) found underneath a tree?
You need to open the airway. If head trauma is suspected, use a jaw thrust. If head trauma is not suspected, use a head-tilt-chin-lift maneuver
You encounter an unconscious pt. They have a pulse but inadequate respirations. You open the airway and find vomit. What should you do?
You should suction the pt using
How do you use suction equipment?
Can use rigid (Yankauer/tonsil tips) or nonrigid (french/whistle-tip). Use rigid unless you are suctioning a stoma or suctioning nose/liquid at back of mouth. Make sure to measure for proper size. Don't touch back of throat, don't want to activate gag reflex. Turn on to at least 300 mmHg. Attach appropriate tubing. Suction for no more than 15 seconds for adults, 10 seconds for children, and 5 seconds for infants. Rinse with water.
Asthma Signs and Symptoms?
1. wheezing on inspiration/expiration
2. Bronchospasm
Anaphylaxis Signs and Symptoms?
1. Flushed skin/hives (urticaria)
2. Generalized edema
3. hypotension
4. laryngeal edema w/ dyspnea
5. wheezing/stridor
Most rxns occur w/in 30 mins, administer epi using epipen. O2 also helps
Bronchiolitis signs and symptoms?
1. Dyspnea
2. wheezing
3. Coughing
4. fever
5. dehydration
6. Tachypnea
7. Tachycardia
Often due to RSV infection, severe bronchiole inflammation. Occurs most frequently in infants, especially boys. Provide O2 therapy, allow pt to remain in comfortable position. Reassess frequently and be prepared to manage airway/positive pressure ventilation
Bronchitis Signs and Symptoms
1. Chronic cough w/ sputum production
2. Wheezing
3. cyanosis
4. Tachypnea
Type of COPD, can be due to tobacco. When excess mucus created.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
1. flu like symptoms
2. headache
3. dizziness
4. fatigue
5. nausea
6 . vomiting
7. chest pain
remove them from scene, administer high flow o2 by nonrebreathing mask. May need full airway control w/ airway adjunct and bvm ventilation
CHF
1. Dependent edema
2. Crackles (pulmonary edema)
3. Orthopnea
4. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Common Cold
1. cough
2. runny/stuffy nose
3. sore throat
COPD
slow process of dilation/disruption of airways/alveoli caused by chronic bronchial obstruction
Croup
1. fever
2. barking cough
3. stridor
4. mostly seen in pediatric patients
inflammation/swelling of pharynx, larynx and trachea. Typically seen in young children
Treat w/ humidified O2
Diphtheria
1. difficulty breathing/swallowing
2. sore throat
3. thick gray buildup in throat/nose
4. fever
Emphysema
1. barrel chest
2. pushed lip breathing (pink puffers)
3. dyspnea on exertion
4. cyanosis
5. wheezing/decreased breath sounds
Most common form of COPD. Loss of elastic material in lungs
Epiglottitis
1. Dyspnea
2. High fever
3. stridor
4. drooling
5. difficulty swallowing
6. severe sore throat
7. tripod/sniffing position
Life threatening, caused by bacterial infection of epiglottis in children, risk of complete airway obstruction. Try to keep them from crying. Do not put anything in mouths. Provide quick transport to ER, focus on maintaining patent airway
Flu
1. cough
2. fever
3. sore throat
4. fatigue
Hay Fever
coldlike symptoms, caused by allergic response.
Hyperventilation
over breathing to the point of arterial CO2 falls below normal. Alkalosis of blood occurs.
1. anxiety
2. dizziness
3. numbness
4. tingling of hands/feet
5. painful spasms of hand/feet
6. Pt's feel they cannot catch breathe
occurs when someone experiences psychological distress. Maybe be as high as 40 breaths/min or low as 20. Verbally instruct pt to slow breathing, and if that doesn't work, give supplemental O2 and provide transport
Pertussis
1. coughing spells
2. whooping sound
3. fever
airborne bacterial infection, coughing spells can last for a minute where pt turns red. May vomit/want to avoid eat/drink
Pleural Effusion
collection of fluid outside lung on one or both sides that compresses lung/lungs and causes dyspnea.
Lung sounds = decreased breath sounds from lungs where fluid is. Pt's feel better sitting upright, but only treatment is fluid removal in hospital
Pneumonia
1. dyspnea
2. chills/fever
3. cough
4. green, red or rust colored sputum
5. localized wheezing or crackles
Infection of lungs, often secondary infection. Affects people who are chronically/terminally ill. May hear wheezing, crackles, friction rubs or rhonchi. Provide airway support, supplemental O2
pneumothorax
1. sudden chest pain w/ dyspnea
2. decreased breath sounds on affected side
3. subcutaneous emphysema
4. JVD
Effects tall and thin people more. Caused when air leaks into pleural space from opening in chest/lung surface. Lung collapses and pleural spaces no longer contact
Pulmonary edema
caused by CHF, where heart can't pump blood away as fast as it collects in pulmonary arteries. So you have edema in lungs.
1. difficulty breathing w/ exertion
2. sudden attack of respiratory distress
3. suffocation feeling
4. cold sweats
5. tachycardia
6. cool, diaphoretic, cyanotic kin
7. adventitious breath sounds like crackles/wheezing
8. tachycardia
9. hypertension initially then hypotension
pulmonary embolus
1. sharp chest pain
2. sudden onset
3. dyspnea
4. tachycardia
5. clear breath sounds initially
6. hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
7. tachypnea
tension pneumothorax
1. severe shortness of breath
2. decreased/altered level of consciousness
3. neck vein distension
4. tracheal deviation (late sign)
5. hypotension, signs of shock (late sign)
Respiratory syncytial Virus (RSV)
1. cough
2. wheezing
3. fever
4. dehydration
Look for signs of dehydration, infants w/ RSV often refuse liquids. Humidified O2 can be helpful
TB
1. cough
2. fever
3. fatigue
4. productive/bloody sputum
bacterial infection, can be dormant for years. High prevalence for people living in close contact. Need to wear gloves, eye protection, N-95 respirator [Show Less]