NSG235 Exam 2 Blueprint: Oxygen Therapy, Upper & Lower Respiratory Disorders, and Thoracic Trauma

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering oxygen delivery methods, airway adjuncts, upper and lower respiratory diseases, thoracic trauma, chest tube troubleshooting, and emergency management based on the NSG235 Exam 2 Blueprint.

Hypoxemia

A decrease in the arterial oxygen tension in the blood, commonly caused by high altitudes, hypoventilation, ventilation-perfusion ($V\text{-}Q$) mismatch, and atelectasis.

Hypoxia

A decrease in the oxygen supply to tissues and cells caused by severe pulmonary disease or systemic conditions outside the respiratory system, such as shock states or low hemoglobin levels.

Oxygen Toxicity

An adverse reaction that occurs when oxygen concentrations greater than $50\%$ are administered for extended periods, typically over $24\text{ hours}$, causing alveolar atelectasis and progressive respiratory difficulty.

Venturi Mask

A high-flow, fixed-concentration delivery device that provides a very precise amount of oxygen and is suitable for mouth breathers and patients with facial fractures.

Bag Valve Mask (BVM)

A handheld airway adjunct utilized for manual ventilation during cardiac or respiratory codes, or to temporarily maintain oxygenation until an advanced airway is secured.

Nasal Pharyngeal Airway (NPA)

A flexible tube inserted from the nares into the pharynx to maintain an open airway and facilitate oral suctioning, measured from the tip of the patient's nose to the tragus of the ear.

Oropharyngeal Airway

A rigid artificial airway positioned in the posterior pharynx to prevent the tongue from occluding the soft palate; contraindicated in patients with an intact gag reflex due to the risk of vomiting and aspiration.

Endotracheal Tube

A tube inserted through the mouth or nose into the trachea to provide a temporary, secure artificial airway during medical emergencies or mechanical ventilation.

Tracheostomy

A surgical opening (stoma) created directly into the trachea that permits breathing while the upper airway remains anatomically connected to the mouth and nose.

Laryngectomy

The complete surgical removal of the larynx, which permanently separates the trachea from the mouth and nose and requires lifelong breathing exclusively through a stoma.

Rhinitis

Inflammation and irritation of the mucous membranes lining the nasal passages, categorized as acute or chronic and allergic or nonallergic.

Rhinorrhea

Excessive thin or purulent drainage and fluid discharge from the mucous membranes of the nasal cavities.

Rhinosinusitis

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity, formerly known as sinusitis, classified as acute (less than $4\text{ weeks}$), subacute ($4\text{ to }12\text{ weeks}$), or chronic (more than $12\text{ weeks}$).

Acute Pharyngitis

Sudden, painful inflammation of the pharynx involving the posterior third of the tongue, tonsils, and soft palate, most frequently caused by viral infections or Group A Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus.

Epistaxis

Hemorrhage from the nose resulting from the rupture of tiny blood vessels situated within the nasal mucous membranes.

Cor Pulmonale

An alteration in the structure and function of the heart's right ventricle caused by pulmonary hypertension or a primary respiratory disorder, presenting as a late complication of COPD.

Status Asthmaticus

A severe, life-threatening form of an acute asthma attack that remains refractory to initial bronchodilator and systemic corticosteroid administration, resulting in severe hypoxia, hypercapnia, and impending respiratory failure.

Silent Chest

The absence or severe reduction of audible breath sounds upon auscultation during an acute asthma exacerbation, serving as an ominous clinical indicator of critical airway obstruction.

Empyema

An accumulation of purulent fluid or pus within the pleural cavity, often occurring as a complication of severe bacterial pneumonia or thoracic trauma.

Hemoptysis

The coughing up or expectoration of blood or blood-tinged sputum originating from the lungs or bronchial tree.

Pulmonary Embolus (PE)

An obstruction in the pulmonary arterial bed caused by a foreign substance carried through the systemic bloodstream, commonly a thrombus originating from deep veins, fat, air, or amniotic fluid.

Bronchoscopy

An invasive endoscopic procedure utilizing a lighted, camera-equipped instrument inserted into the trachea and bronchi for diagnostic visualization, tissue biopsy, or therapeutic secretion clearance; requires the patient to remain NPO preoperatively.

Tension Pneumothorax

A medical emergency occurring when air continuously enters the pleural space without escape, creating high intrathoracic pressure that collapses the ipsilateral lung, causes tracheal deviation to the unaffected side, and reduces cardiac output.

Flutter (Heimlich) Valve

A one-way portable chest drainage valve that permits air and fluid to escape the pleural space only when intrathoracic pressure exceeds atmospheric pressure, facilitating ambulation and transport in patients with small-to-moderate pneumothoraces.

Tidaling

The expected, rhythmic rise and fall of the fluid level within the water seal chamber of a chest drainage system that corresponds synchronously with patient inhalation and exhalation.

Subcutaneous Emphysema

The entrapment of air within the subcutaneous dermal tissues surrounding a chest tube insertion site or airway trauma, producing a crackling or popping sensation (crepitus) on palpation.

Valsalva Maneuver

The practice of bearing down or holding one's breath during chest tube removal to prevent atmospheric air from being drawn into the pleural cavity.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The acid-fast, gram-positive, aerobic bacillus responsible for tuberculosis infection, transmitted through aerosolized droplet nuclei.

Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB)

A strain of tuberculosis that exhibits in vitro resistance to the two most potent first-line antitubercular medications: isoniazid and rifampin.

Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR-TB)

A strain of tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, as well as to any fluoroquinolone and at least one injectable second-line antibiotic.

Lobectomy

The surgical excision and removal of an entire single lobe of a lung.

Pneumonectomy

The complete surgical resection of an entire lung, following which chest tubes are typically avoided and the patient is positioned on the operative side or back.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A severe, acute lung condition initiated by inflammatory triggers that damage the alveolar-capillary membrane, leading to bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, reduced lung compliance, and arterial hypoxemia refractory to high concentrations of supplemental oxygen.

Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)

A mechanical ventilation parameter that maintains positive airway pressure at the conclusion of expiration to prevent alveolar collapse, reverse atelectasis, and improve arterial oxygenation.