Respiratory basics

Direct observation of the patient's chest to identify any abnormalities such as chest excursion, symmetry, skin color, and lesions.

Using touch to examine the neck and thorax. This involves feeling for things like the trachea's position, subcutaneous emphysema, chest wall symmetry, tenderness, crepitus, pulsations, and bulges.

A technique using tapping to assess lung density. Different sounds are produced depending on whether the lungs are filled with air, fluid, or solid matter.

Listening to lung sounds using a stethoscope. A systematic approach is used, auscultating the anterior, posterior, and lateral aspects of the chest during inspiration and expiration.

An assessment method used to collect baseline data, identify changes, and determine appropriate nursing interventions. It includes inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

Vibrations felt on the chest wall as a patient speaks, used to assess lung density and air movement.

Tactile fremitus is stronger at the lung bases than the apex.

Increased tactile fremitus suggests consolidation or fluid in the lungs.

Decreased tactile fremitus indicates air trapping, pneumothorax, or thick pleura.

The quality or character of tactile fremitus can be described as normal, increased, decreased, or absent.

The words 'ninety-nine' are often used when assessing tactile fremitus because they are easily understood and produce consistent vibrations.

Effective clinical history taking involves an open-ended, nonjudgmental approach to understand a patient's concerns, medical history, and current symptoms.

Barriers to effective clinical history taking can include language barriers, patient anxiety or discomfort, time constraints, or interruptions.

Inspection of the chest wall involves observing the patient for any abnormalities in chest movement, symmetry, skin color, and lesions.

Inspection of the tongue and mucous membranes can reveal signs of dehydration, infection, or inflammation.

Increased vibration in the chest can be caused by various factors such as fluid buildup (pleural effusion), collapsed lung (pneumothorax), air trapping (COPD, asthma), or increased tissue density (consolidation).

Reduced chest vibration can be caused by conditions that decrease air movement, such as a collapsed lung (atelectasis).

Abnormal chest wall movements can indicate issues with breathing or lung function. For example, chest wall retractions during inhalation can suggest airway obstruction.

Increased respiratory effort can indicate difficulty breathing and may be a sign of underlying lung disease. This can include rapid breathing, labored breathing, or use of accessory muscles.

This is a general observation for the chest that can include inspecting for any abnormalities like chest excursion, symmetry, skin color, or lesions.

This refers to the configuration of the chest, which can be influenced by underlying conditions like COPD, asthma, or obesity.

Increased muscle mass, commonly associated with obesity, can affect chest wall movement and breathing.

A breath sound heard over the trachea, described as loud, high-pitched, and hollow.

A breath sound typically heard over major bronchi, characterized by a medium pitch and intensity.

A breath sound heard over the peripheral lung fields, described as soft, low-pitched, and breezy.

An abnormal breath sound characterized by crackling or popping sounds during inspiration, often caused by fluid buildup or inflammation in the alveoli.

An abnormal breath sound characterized by a high-pitched, whistling sound during inspiration or expiration, usually indicating narrowed airways.

An abnormal breath sound characterized by a harsh, grating sound heard during both inspiration and expiration, usually caused by inflammation or irritation of the pleura.

An abnormal breath sound characterized by a high-pitched, crowing sound during inspiration, usually caused by obstruction in the upper airways.

A respiratory assessment involves systematically inspecting, palpating, percussing, and auscultating the chest to gather information about the patient's respiratory status.

Oxygen delivery systems that provide a consistent oxygen concentration regardless of the patient's breathing pattern.

Oxygen delivery systems that allow the patient to breathe in extra oxygen stored in a reservoir, especially during increased breathing effort.

A type of high flow oxygen device that provides precise oxygen concentration.

A specialized type of high flow nasal cannula used to deliver humidified oxygen and reduce dead space in patients with respiratory distress.

The percentage of oxygen in the air a patient breathes in, expressed as a fraction.

The analysis of blood gases from an artery to assess oxygenation, carbon dioxide levels, and pH.

A measure of the volume of air breathed in and out per minute.

The space in the airways where gas exchange doesn't occur, leading to wasted ventilation.

A measurement that reflects the amount of oxygen dissolved in arterial blood. It indicates how well the lungs are transferring oxygen into the bloodstream.

A measurement that reflects the percentage of hemoglobin in your blood that is saturated with oxygen. It shows how well oxygen is binding to red blood cells.

A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of the blood. It's crucial for maintaining bodily functions.

A measure of the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) dissolved in the blood. It reflects the respiratory component of acid-base balance.

A measurement that reflects the amount of bicarbonate (HCO3-) in the blood. It represents the metabolic component of acid-base balance.

A condition where the blood is too acidic. It's often caused by lung problems that prevent the body from getting rid of CO2.

A condition where the blood is too alkaline. It's often caused by hyperventilation (rapid breathing) that reduces the CO2 level in the blood.

A condition where the blood is too acidic. It's often caused by metabolic problems that affect the body's ability to properly balance acidity.