Nursing Care of Clients with Upper Respiratory Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, assessment findings, diagnostic procedures, oxygen therapy concepts, surgical interventions, and conditions related to upper respiratory disorders.

Ventilation

The physical act of breathing, involving the movement of air into and out of the lungs.

Respiration

The overall process of gas exchange that provides the body with oxygen ($O_2$) and removes carbon dioxide ($CO_2$).

External Respiration

Gas exchange occurring between the alveoli and the pulmonary vein.

Internal Respiration

Gas exchange occurring between the blood and the body's cells and tissues.

Lysozymes

Enzymes present in ciliated mucus membranes that destroy bacteria.

Epiglottis

A tissue flap in the larynx that plays a critical role in preventing aspiration.

Incentive Spirometry

The most common pulmonary function test technique involving forceful breathing into a spirometer mouthpiece to measure inhaled and exhaled lung volumes.

Arterial Oxygen Tension ($PaO_2$)

An arterial blood gas measurement indicating the degree of oxygenation of the blood.

Arterial Carbon Dioxide Tension ($PaCO_2$)

An arterial blood gas measurement indicating the adequacy of alveolar ventilation.

Pulse Oximetry

A noninvasive method of continuously monitoring the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin ($SaO_2$).

Bronchoscopy

Direct inspection and examination of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi through either a flexible fiber optic bronchoscope or a rigid bronchoscope.

Thoracoscopy

A diagnostic procedure in which the pleural cavity is examined using an endoscope.

Thoracentesis

The aspiration of fluid or air from the pleural space performed for diagnostic or therapeutic reasons.

Pectus Carinatum

A chest wall deformity characterized by a prominent protrusion of the sternum.

Pectus Excavatum

A chest wall deformity characterized by an indentation of the lower sternum above the xiphoid process.

Kussmaul Respirations

An abnormal breathing pattern characterized by rapid, deep breathing.

Cheyne-Stokes Respirations

An abnormal breathing pattern characterized by alternating periods of apnea and deep, rapid breathing.

Biot's Respirations

Ataxic, irregular breathing pattern with apnea every four to five cycles, commonly associated with brainstem (medulla) damage.

Cyanosis

A late sign of hypoxemia observed in dark-skinned patients in the conjunctivae, lips, palms, and under the tongue.

Clubbing

An increase in the angle between the base of the nail and fingernail to $180^\times$ or more, usually indicating long-standing hypoxemia.

Tactile Fremitus

The vibration of the chest wall produced by vocalization, felt by placing the palmar surface of the hands against the chest while the patient repeats phrases like 'ninety-nine'.

Hyperresonance

A loud, lower-pitched percussion sound than normal resonance heard over hyperinflated lungs, such as in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute asthma, or pneumothorax.

Tympany

A percussion sound with a drumlike, loud, empty quality heard over a gas-filled stomach, intestine, or pneumothorax.

Dullness

A percussion sound with medium-intensity pitch and duration heard over areas of mixed solid and lung tissue, such as pneumonia or pleural effusion.

Flatness

A soft, high-pitched percussion sound of short duration heard over very dense tissue where air is absent, such as below the level of the diaphragm.

Vesicular Breath Sounds

Soft, low-pitched, gentle rustling breath sounds heard over all lung areas except major bronchi, with an inspiration-to-expiration ratio of $3:1$.

Bronchovesicular Breath Sounds

Breath sounds of medium pitch and intensity heard over mainstem bronchi anteriorly and between scapulae posteriorly, with an inspiration-to-expiration ratio of $1:1$.

Bronchial Breath Sounds

Loud, higher-pitched breath sounds resembling air blowing through a hollow pipe, with an inspiration-to-expiration ratio of $2:3$ and a short pause between cycles.

Egophony

An abnormal vocal sound heard through a stethoscope characteristic of lung consolidation, where the sound of the vowel 'E' is transmitted as 'A'.

Fine Crackles

Short-duration, discontinuous, high-pitched sounds heard just before the end of inspiration, caused by collapsed alveoli or terminal bronchioles snapping open.

Coarse Crackles

Long-duration, discontinuous, low-pitched sounds caused by air passing through an airway intermittently occluded by mucus, unstable bronchial wall, or mucosal folds.

Rhonchi

Continuous rumbling, snoring, or rattling sounds resulting from obstruction of large airways with secretions, most prominent on expiration.

Wheezes

Continuous high-pitched squeaking or musical sounds caused by rapid vibration of bronchial walls during airway narrowing or bronchospasm.

Stridor

A continuous musical or crowing sound of constant pitch resulting from partial obstruction of the larynx or trachea.

Bronchophony

An abnormal sound heard when a patient repeats 'ninety-nine' and the words are easily understood, clear, and loud due to underlying lung consolidation or compression.

Whispered Pectoriloquy

An abnormal sound heard when a patient whispers 'one-two-three' and the almost inaudible voice is transmitted clearly and distinctly due to lung consolidation.

Hypoxemia

A decrease in arterial oxygen tension in the blood.

Hypoxia

A decrease in oxygen supply to the body tissues and cells.

Hypoxemic Hypoxia

Decreased oxygen level in the blood resulting in decreased oxygen diffusion into tissues, caused by hypoventilation, high altitudes, ventilation-perfusion mismatch, shunts, or diffusion defects.

Circulatory Hypoxia

Hypoxia resulting from inadequate capillary circulation, caused by decreased cardiac output, shock, or local vascular obstruction.

Anemic Hypoxia

Hypoxia resulting from a decreased effective hemoglobin concentration, which reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Histotoxic Hypoxia

Hypoxia that occurs when a toxic substance, such as cyanide, interferes with the ability of tissues to use available oxygen.

Oxygen Toxicity

A condition occurring when an oxygen concentration greater than $50\text{\%}$ is administered for longer than $48\,\text{hours}$, caused by an overproduction of oxygen free radicals.

Hypoxic Drive

A primary respiratory stimulus mechanism in COPD patients where breathing is driven by low blood oxygen levels rather than high carbon dioxide levels.

Venturi Mask

A high-flow oxygen delivery device that uses the Venturi principle to mix high-flow oxygen with room air to deliver a precise, controlled fraction of inspired oxygen ($FiO_2$).

Postural Drainage

A technique using gravity to assist in removing bronchial secretions from affected bronchioles into the bronchi and trachea for elimination.

Pneumonectomy

The surgical removal of an entire lung.

Lobectomy

The surgical removal of a single lobe of a lung.

Segmentectomy

The surgical removal of a specific bronchopulmonary segment that functions as an individual unit of a lung lobe.

Wedge Resection

The surgical removal of a small, well-circumscribed lesion without regard to the location of intersegmental planes.

Rhinitis

Irritation and swelling of the mucous membrane inside the nose, causing symptoms like rhinorrhea, stuffiness, sneezing, and postnasal drip.

Episodic Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis symptoms related to sporadic exposure to allergens not typically encountered in the patient's normal environment.

Intermittent Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis symptoms present less than $4\,\text{days}$ per week or less than $4\,\text{weeks}$ per year.

Persistent Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis symptoms present more than $4\,\text{days}$ per week and more than $4\,\text{weeks}$ per year.

Antitussives

Medications that suppress or reduce coughing by blocking the cough reflex in the brain, indicated for dry, non-productive coughs.

Expectorants

Medications that thin and loosen mucus or phlegm, making it easier to expel productive chesty cough secretions.

Acute Viral Rhinitis

An upper respiratory tract infection (common cold or acute Coryza) caused by over 200 viruses, most commonly rhinoviruses.

Antrochoanal Polyps

Single, unilateral nasal polyps that originate from the maxillary sinus, most commonly found in children.

Ethmoidal Polyps

Multiple, bilateral nasal polyps that originate from ethmoidal air cells, most commonly found in adults.

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nasal cavity or nostrils resulting from the rupture of tiny blood vessels inside the nose.

Sinusitis

An acute or chronic inflammatory process involving one or more of the paranasal sinuses.

Tonsillitis

An inflammatory process of the mucosa and structures of the pharyngo-tonsillar area, usually of infectious origin.

Pharyngitis

A sudden or persistent painful inflammation of the pharynx, including the posterior third of the tongue, soft palate, and tonsils.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx leading to edema of the laryngeal mucosa and underlying structures, producing hoarseness or loss of voice.

Laryngotracheobronchitis

Also known as viral croup, a viral respiratory infection causing swelling around the vocal cords, voice box, and windpipe, characterized by a seal-like barking cough and stridor.

Epiglottitis

An acute, severe, life-threatening inflammation of the epiglottis and pharyngeal structures, primarily affecting children aged $2$ to $7\,\text{years}$.