Respiratory Care Assessment and Vital Signs

A set of 60 vocabulary flashcards covering key topics from the respiratory assessment lecture, including critical life functions, physical examination steps, dyspnea types, cough mechanics, sputum analysis, hemoptysis vs. hematemesis, and vital signs reference ranges.

Ventilation

The first critical life function, evaluated clinically using respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (Vt), chest movement, breath sounds, PaCO2, and ETCO2.

Oxygenation

A critical life function evaluated clinically using heart rate (HR), skin color, sensorium, PaO2, and SpO2.

Circulation

A critical life function evaluated clinically using heart rate (HR) and strength, as well as cardiac output.

Perfusion

A critical life function evaluated clinically using blood pressure (BP), sensorium, body temperature, urine output, and hemodynamics.

Four Critical Life Functions

The essential body functions evaluated in respiratory care: ventilation, oxygenation, circulation, and perfusion.

Vital Signs

Objective, quick, and easily obtainable measurements of the body's essential functions that provide necessary information about a patient's current health status.

Physical Examination

An essential patient evaluation method used for determining a patient's problem(s) and assessing the effects of therapy, consisting of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

Inspection

Visual examination using eyes only to observe skin color, breathing, and symmetry.

Palpation

Physical examination by touch used to check tenderness, pulse, and temperature.

Percussion

Physical examination technique involving tapping to produce sound to assess the lungs and abdomen.

Auscultation

Physical examination technique of listening with a stethoscope to evaluate heart, lung, and bowel sounds.

Dyspnea

The clinical term used for the subjective experience of breathing discomfort or difficulty, described as an uncomfortable awareness of breathing.

Breathlessness

The patient's awareness or sensation that breathing is uncomfortable or requires more effort than it should.

Orthopnea

Dyspnea or shortness of breath that occurs when lying flat, typically requiring the patient to sit up or lean forward to breathe comfortably.

Platypnea

Shortness of breath experienced upon sitting up that is relieved by lying down (the opposite of orthopnea).

Trepopnea

Positional dyspnea associated with lying on one side, particularly when lateral positioning changes the relationship between healthy and diseased lungs.

Unilateral Lung Disease Positional Effect

A clinical occurrence where a patient becomes dyspneic when the affected lung is placed downward (dependent).

Four Factors of an Effective Cough

Deep inspiration, elastic recoil, expiratory muscle strength, and airway resistance.

Deep Inspiration (Coughing)

The initial phase of a cough where the patient must be able to take a deep breath prior to coughing.

Elastic Recoil (Coughing)

The lung property required to assist in generating sufficient expiratory airflow during a cough.

Expiratory Muscle Strength

The force generated by strong abdominal and expiratory muscles to create the necessary power for an effective cough.

Airway Resistance (Coughing Factor)

The property of respiratory passages where changes can affect how effectively air and secretions are expelled.

Impaired Cough Conditions

Conditions leading to a weakened cough, including cardiopulmonary disease, neurologic or neuromuscular disease, recent abdominal/thoracic surgery, and trauma or significant pain.

Atelectasis

A condition where mucus blocks airways, causing parts of the lung to collapse or not fully expand.

Consequences of Inadequate Cough

A progression starting with retained secretions, leading to atelectasis, impaired oxygenation (low SpO2), and an increased risk of pneumonia and hypoxemia.

Sputum Assessment Parameters

Evaluating expectorated material based on color, consistency, quantity, and odor.

Mucoid Sputum

Clear and thick sputum commonly observed in asthma.

White and Foamy Sputum

Sputum consistency that can be normal or seen in patients with chronic bronchitis.

Yellow Sputum

Sputum appearance that may indicate infection or inflammation.

Green Sputum

Sputum appearance that often suggests a bacterial infection.

Bloody Sputum

Sputum containing red or pink streaks, potentially caused by infection, irritation, or other conditions.

Purulent Sputum

Thick, colored, sticky sputum containing pus cells, suggesting a bacterial infection.

Fetid Sputum

Foul-smelling sputum that may indicate an anaerobic infection.

Mucociliary Escalator

The mechanism by which mucus is moved to the hypopharynx, where it is swallowed or expectorated.

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood or blood-streaked sputum originating from the lungs or respiratory tract.

Massive Hemoptysis

The coughing up of >300 mL of blood over a 24-hour period, commonly caused by bronchiectasis, lung abscess, or acute/chronic TB.

Non-Massive Hemoptysis

Coughing up smaller amounts of blood or blood-streaked sputum, caused by airway infection, TB, trauma, or pulmonary embolism (PE).

Hematemesis

Vomiting blood originating from the GI tract (esophagus, stomach, or intestines).

Hemoptysis vs. Hematemesis Diagnostic Question

The key question asked to determine blood origin: 'Did you cough the blood up, or did you vomit it?'

RT Clinical Logic for Cough + Blood

The diagnostic association where cough paired with blood indicates hemoptysis.

RT Clinical Logic for Vomiting + Blood

The diagnostic association where vomiting paired with blood indicates hematemesis.

Normal Adult Body Temperature Range

97.0°F - 99.0°F (36.1°C - 37.2°C), with a normal average of ~98.6°F (37°C).

Hyperthermia / Fever

Body temperature above normal range, which may indicate infection, inflammation, or other medical conditions.

Hypothermia

Body temperature below normal range, which may indicate exposure to cold or other medical conditions.

Normal Adult Pulse Rate / Heart Rate

60 - 100 beats per minute (bpm), reflecting heart rate, rhythm, and cardiac function.

Tachycardia

A heart rate greater than 100 bpm (> 100 bpm).

Bradycardia

A heart rate less than 60 bpm (< 60 bpm).

Causes of Tachycardia

Elevated heart rate potentially caused by fever, pain, anxiety, hypoxia, hypovolemia, etc.

Causes of Bradycardia

Decreased heart rate potentially caused by sleep, athletic training, drugs, heart block, etc.

Normal Adult Respiratory Rate

12 - 20 breaths per minute, reflecting ventilation and respiratory status.

Tachypnea

A respiratory rate greater than 20 breaths per minute (> 20 breaths/min).

Bradypnea

A respiratory rate less than 12 breaths per minute (< 12 breaths/min).

Causes of Tachypnea

Elevated respiratory rate potentially caused by fever, pain, anxiety, hypoxia, respiratory disease, etc.

Causes of Bradypnea

Decreased respiratory rate potentially caused by sleep, drugs, increased ICP, neurologic disorders, etc.

Normal Adult Blood Pressure Range

~120/80 mmHg (Systolic / Diastolic), reflecting cardiac output and vascular resistance.

Hypertension

Blood pressure greater than 120 mmHg systolic and/or greater than 80 mmHg diastolic (> 120 systolic and/or > 80 diastolic).

Hypotension

Blood pressure less than 90 mmHg systolic and/or less than 60 mmHg diastolic (< 90 systolic and/or < 60 diastolic).

Causes of Hypotension

Low blood pressure potentially indicating shock, blood loss, dehydration, etc.

Vital Signs Evaluation Rule (RT Tip)

Clinical guideline to assess trends rather than isolated numbers, consider the whole patient/clinical picture, and correlate with signs, symptoms, and history.

Vital Signs Reference Chart Overview

A reference displaying ranges, clinical measurements, high states, and low states for body temperature, HR, RR, and BP.