Respiratory Emergencies Overview

Respiratory Emergencies Overview

• Basic life support (BLS) is a fundamental component of respiratory care.
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is crucial for restoring breathing and heartbeat.
• Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are vital tools in treating cardiac emergencies.
• Advanced life support (ALS) involves more advanced interventions.

Respiratory System Review

• Anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system are essential.
• Assessing breathing involves evaluating adequate breathing, breathing difficulty, and conducting a focused history and physical exam.

Emergency Medical Care

• Oxygen administration is a critical component of respiratory emergencies.
• Proper patient positioning is crucial during transport.
• Artificial ventilation may be necessary in severe respiratory distress.
• Inhalers are frequently used to treat respiratory conditions.

Respiratory Terminology

• Ventilation refers to the movement of air.
• Respiration is the exchange of gases in the body.

Ventilation

• Inhalation (breathing in): The diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract, expanding the thoracic cavity and creating negative pressure. Ribs move upward and outward. Air flows into the lungs.
• Exhalation (breathing out): Diaphragm and intercostal muscles relax, decreasing the thoracic cavity size and restoring positive pressure. Ribs move downward and inward. Air is expelled from the lungs.

Respiration

• Alveolar respiration is the gas exchange within the lungs.
• Cellular respiration is gas exchange within the tissues of the body.

Alveolar Respiration

• Oxygen-rich air is inhaled into the alveoli.
• Oxygen diffuses into the capillaries.
• Oxygen-poor blood releases carbon dioxide into the alveoli.
• Carbon dioxide is exhaled.

Cellular Respiration

• Cells release carbon dioxide to the capillaries.
• Capillaries deliver oxygen to the cells.

Normal Breathing

• Normal respiratory rates are different for adults, children, and infants.

Assessing Breathing

• Factors to assess breathing include rate, rhythm, quality, chest expansion, effort of breathing, depth of breathing, and breath sounds.
• Use of accessory muscles signals respiratory distress.

Focused History and Physical Examination

• OPQRST (Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time) method is employed for gathering patient information during assessment.
• SAMPLE (Signs and Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, Events) method is for collecting patient data in a comprehensive manner.
• Hematemesis (vomiting blood): Indicates upper gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Hemoptysis (coughing up blood): Usually signifies a respiratory issue. Physical exams are vital.

Emergency Medical Care

• Oxygen administration is a critical procedure in respiratory emergencies.
• Oxygen is the most important medication in respiratory distress situations.
• Patient transport position should be most comfortable.
• Artificial ventilations techniques include mouth-to-mask, two-person bag-valve-mask, and flow-restricted oxygen-powered devices.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

• COPD encompasses conditions like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.

Emphysema

• An abnormal lung condition causing overinflation of the lungs.
• Alveolar walls are damaged, reducing lung elasticity and gas exchange.

Chronic Bronchitis

• Characterized by mucus secretions and inflammation in the bronchial tubes.

Asthma

• A recurring lung condition causing breathing difficulties, wheezing, coughing, and lung secretions.

Inhalers

• Devices used to deliver medications to the lungs for treating respiratory distress.

• Common types include beta-agonist inhalers and others.

• Indications for inhaler use includes exhibiting symptoms of respiratory distress.

• Physician-prescribed inhalers must be used with authorization from medical personnel.

• Inability to use the inhaler, absence of a prescribed inhaler, no permission from medical direction, and maximum dose use prior to professional arrival are contraindications for inhaler use.

• Procedure to assist someone with an inhaler includes, checking expiration dates, confirming that the device is at room temperature, shaking and preparation of the medication, removal of other respiratory assisting devices, and nasal cannula may remain in place.

• Patient inhalations should be slow, deep breaths, while actively depressing the inhalant.

• The patient should inhale deeply and hold their breath to allow the medication to properly absorb.

• Re-administration of the medication should only occur in the event of specific orders from appropriate medical professionals.

• Maintaining comprehensive records of the medication, time, vital signs and other observed changes of the patient condition must be done.