Foundations: Respiratory Skills

Vocabulary flashcards covering respiratory assessment, positioning, diagnostic tests, specimen collection, oxygen delivery methods, and airway management based on the lecture notes.

Crackles

Breath sounds characterized by a rice crispies/snap/pop sound.

Wheezes

High-pitched whistling sound occurring with inspiration or expiration.

Sonorous

Deep low snoring/moan or rumbling sounds associated with secretions/mucous.

Stridor

Indicates minimal air exchange and is considered a medical emergency.

Pleural friction rub

Raspy breath sounds resulting from the movement of inflamed and roughened pleural surfaces against one another during chest wall movement.

Epiglottitis

A medical emergency where the epiglottis swells and closes the airway.

SOB

Abbreviation for short of breath.

Negative pressure room

A room where air flow is taken into the ventilation system/room rather than blowing out, requiring the door to be closed at all times to protect those outside.

Semi-fowlers

Positioning at a $30$ degree angle, used for patients with little or no respiratory distress.

Fowlers

Positioning at a $45-60$ degree angle, used for patients with minimal to moderate respiratory distress.

Orthopneic position

Positioning at $90$ degrees or greater, sitting bolt upright or leaning over an over-bed table; it is the best position for severe SOB.

Bronchoscopy

An invasive procedure using a lighted scope to investigate the hollow tubes of the respiratory system; requires NPO after midnight and an anesthetized throat.

Lung Scan

A type of nuclear scanning test using a radioactive tracer and a special camera; requires checking for iodine allergies and increasing fluid intake post-test to rid the body of dye.

Thoracentesis

A procedure where the chest wall is pierced with a needle to withdraw fluid from the pleural space for therapeutic purposes or biopsy.

Sputum Collection

Collection of deep secretions (not spit), best performed in the AM and always before starting antibiotics.

Normal O2 Saturation

The normal range is $95\%-100\%$. citizen

Humidified Air

Helps mucus membranes stay moist to prevent drying.

O2 cannula

Oxygen delivery device measured in $L/min$ or percentage; for example, $6\,L = 60\%$ on a mask.

Venti-mask

Delivers oxygen at higher levels using an adjustable venturi valve.

Rebreather mask

Contains a plastic reservoir bag that saves one-third of exhaled air, allowing the patient to rebreathe some of their own $CO_2$ to stimulate breathing with increased oxygen.

Nonrebreather mask

Features side valves to rid $CO_2$ so the patient does not rebreathe it; typically delivers $70$ to $100$ percent oxygen.

Oxygen combustion

Oxygen is not flammable but enables combustion to start a fire; petroleum products like Vaseline should not be used around it.

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; provides continuous blowing of air into the face and lungs to assist breathing in.

BiPAP

Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure; works with inhalations so air is forced in specifically when the patient breathes in.

Flutter Valve

A cough assist device that helps clear mucus by creating vibrations on the chest wall when the patient breathes out through it.

Incentive spirometer

A device that expands the lungs and measures how much air a patient can breathe in to help them breathe more deeply.

Chest PT

The use of manual or mechanical percussion to shake respiratory secretions loose.

Endotracheal (ET) tube

A tube placed in the nose or mouth to keep the airway open, allow ventilation, or administer anesthesia; held in place by a balloon.

Tracheostomy tubes

Surgically created opening for an artificial airway; includes a cuff to prevent air leaks.

Hyper-oxygenate

The process of providing extra oxygen for at least $1$ minute before suctioning to prevent oxygen deprivation.

Suctioning Rule of Thumb

Do not suction more than $3$ times in a single session and do not hold the thumb valve for longer than $10$ seconds.

Yankauer

A tool used specifically for oral suctioning.

Trans-tracheal oxygen therapy

A long-term method of delivering oxygen directly into the lungs through a small, flexible catheter passed from the lower neck into the trachea.