Respiratory Assessment Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is ventilation?

Movement of air in and out of the airways.

What is respiration?

Gas exchange between atmospheric air and the blood and between the blood and cells of the body.

What components are included in health history for respiratory assessment?

Past medical history, ability to perform ADLs, social history (smoker, pollutant exposure), symptoms.

What are common symptoms associated with respiratory issues?

Dyspnea, orthopnea, cough, sputum production, chest pain, and hemoptysis. Signup and view all the answers

What are wheezes and what causes this sound?

Due to narrowing of the airway, they produce continuous musical sounds. Signup and view all the answers

What are crackles and how are they described?

High-pitched discontinuous popping sounds caused by fluid in the airways. Signup and view all the answers

What is stridor and when is it heard?

Loud, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration, indicating an upper airway obstruction. Signup and view all the answers

What is pleural friction rub?

Two inflamed surfaces sliding by one another, causing low-pitched continuous sounds heard on inspiration and expiration. Signup and view all the answers

What are the different breathing patterns?

Eupnea, bradypnea, tachypnea, hypoventilation, hyperpnea, hyperventilation, apnea, Cheyne-Stokes breathing, Biot's respiration. Signup and view all the answers

What are the gerontologic considerations for respiratory assessment?

Decreased alveoli surface area and elasticity, chest wall mobility, diffusion capacity for oxygen, vital capacity. Signup and view all the answers

What are the gerontologic considerations that are increased?

Respiratory dead space, alveolar membrane thickness. Signup and view all the answers

What are early clinical manifestations of hypoxia?

Tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, mood changes. Signup and view all the answers

What are late clinical manifestations of hypoxia?

Confusion, cyanosis, bradypnea, bradycardia, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias. Signup and view all the answers

Define eupnea.

Normal breathing at a rate of 14-20 breaths/min. Signup and view all the answers

Define hypoventilation.

Shallow, irregular breathing. Signup and view all the answers

Define hyperventilation.

Increased rate and depth of breathing; results in decreased PaCO2 level. Signup and view all the answers

Define hyperpnea.

Increase in the depth of respirations. Signup and view all the answers

Define Cheyne-Stokes breathing.

Regular cycle where the rate and depth increase, then decrease until apnea. Signup and view all the answers

Define Biot's respiration.

Periods of normal breathing followed by varying periods of apnea. Signup and view all the answers

What is Kussmaul breathing?

Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperventilation combined. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Respiratory Assessment Key Terms

Ventilation: Refers to the process of air moving in and out of the airways, essential for sustaining life.
Respiration: Involves gas exchange, which occurs between atmospheric air and the bloodstream, and subsequently from blood to the body’s cells.

Health History Considerations

Health history: Important to assess past medical history, the patient’s ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), social history including substance use and exposure to pollutants, as well as presenting symptoms.

Common Respiratory Symptoms

Symptoms to note: Include dyspnea (difficulty breathing), orthopnea (breathlessness while lying flat), cough, sputum production, chest pain, and hemoptysis (coughing up blood).

Respiratory Sounds

Wheezes: Result from airway narrowing, typically first heard during exhalation and can progress to inhalation; can be high-pitched or low-pitched, described as musical or snoring.
Crackles: Also known as "rales"; categorized into fine crackles (soft, high-pitched, like hair rubbing together) and coarse crackles (low-pitched, harsh sounds from large bronchi).
Stridor: A loud, high-pitched sound primarily heard on inspiration without a stethoscope; indicates upper airway obstruction and is a medical emergency.
Pleural Friction Rub: Occurs when two inflamed pleural surfaces slide against each other, producing low-pitched continuous sounds during both inspiration and expiration, likened to "walking on snow."

Breathing Patterns

Variations in breathing: Include eupnea (normal rate), bradypnea (slow rate), tachypnea (rapid rate), hypoventilation (shallow, irregular breathing), hyperpnea (increased depth), hyperventilation (increased rate and depth leading to decreased PaCO2), apnea (cessation of breathing), Cheyne-Stokes breathing (cyclic pattern of increasing and decreasing breathing followed by apnea), and Biot's respiration (normal breathing followed by periods of apnea).

Gerontologic Considerations

Decreased functions: Aging can result in a reduced alveolar surface area and elasticity, decreased chest wall mobility, diminished oxygen diffusion capacity, and lowered vital capacity.
Increased changes: Older adults may experience increased respiratory dead space and greater thickness of the alveolar membrane.

Hypoxia Clinical Manifestations

Early symptoms: Include tachycardia, tachypnea, hypertension, and mood changes such as restlessness and anxiety.
Late symptoms: Progress to confusion, cyanosis, bradypnea, bradycardia, hypotension, and possible cardiac dysrhythmias.

Breathing Definitions

Eupnea: Normal respiratory rate between 14-20 breaths per minute.
Hypoventilation: Characterized by shallow, irregular breathing.
Hyperventilation: Marked by an accelerated rate and depth of breathing, leading to decreased arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2); often linked to anxiety and metabolic acidosis.
Hyperpnea: Involves an increase in the depth of respirations.
Cheyne-Stokes Breathing: A distinct pattern of breathing where the rate and depth alternately increase and decrease before resulting in apnea; associated with conditions like heart failure.
Biot's Respiration: Known as ataxic breathing, it consists of normal breaths followed by variable periods of apnea; typically linked to respiratory depression from drug overdose or brain injury.
Kussmaul Breathing: Associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, characterized by deep, rapid breathing as a compensatory mechanism.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key terms related to respiratory assessment with these flashcards. Each card features definitions for important concepts in ventilatory function and respiration. Perfect for healthcare students and professionals looking to reinforce their understanding of respiratory health.