Chapter 15 Respiratory Emergencies

Question 1

Acidosis

Answer 1

The build up of excess acid in the blood or body tissues the 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

And extreme, life-threatening, systemic 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

Aelectasis

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

Information of the bronchioles that usually occurs in children younger than two years and is often caused by the respiratory Syncytial virus

Question 10

Bronchitis

Answer 10

An 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

An 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 passage ways from infectious disease or irritants such as smoke

Question 14

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Answer 14

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 sounds signaling fluid in the air spaces of the Lungs formally called rales

Question 17

Croup

Answer 17

An 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

And 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 my 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 per minute or as low as only 20 very deep breaths per minute

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 disease

Question 28

Influenza type A

Answer 28

Virus that has crossed the animal/human barrier and has infected humans, recently reaching a pandemic level within 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 experienced 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

An 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

And infectious disease of the lungs 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 spread 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 the lungs as a treatment for condition 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 person’s 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

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