Flashcard set chapter 13 2/4 :D

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Acute hypertensive crisis

A severe, sudden spike in blood pressure—typically 180/120 mm Hg or higher—that requires immediate medical evaluation; blood vessel narrowing (known as vasoconstriction) is a primary reason why blood pressure spikes into a hypertensive crisis.

Acute renal failure

A sudden loss of kidney function that happens over a few hours or days, preventing the body from balancing fluids and filtering waste; metabolic acidosis occurs because failing kidneys cannot clear acids, and fluid overload can cause pulmonary edema because the kidneys retain excess fluid that can back up into the lungs.

Septic shock vs. anaphylaxis

Septic shock is caused by a severe infection → widespread vasodilation → low blood pressure; often includes fever, warm/flushed skin, and signs of infection. Anaphylactic shock is caused by a severe allergic reaction → massive histamine release → vasodilation + airway swelling; often includes hives, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Cyanosis of oral mucosa

Bluish/gray color of the lips, tongue, or inside of the mouth caused by low oxygen in the blood; associated with hypoxemia and respiratory problems that impair oxygenation, such as severe pneumonia, COPD, pulmonary edema, or airway obstruction.

Syncope

Temporary loss of consciousness (“fainting”) caused by a brief decrease in blood flow and oxygen to the brain; associated with severe hypoxemia, pulmonary embolism, arrhythmias, and low cardiac output because these conditions can reduce oxygenated blood flow reaching the brain.

Barrel chest

Increased front-to-back diameter of the chest, giving it a rounded, barrel-shaped appearance; associated with COPD, especially emphysema, because chronic air trapping causes the lungs to stay overinflated and pushes the ribs outward.

Emphysema

A type of COPD where alveolar walls are destroyed, reducing gas exchange and causing air trapping; associated with dyspnea, barrel chest, decreased breath sounds, and prolonged expiration because damaged alveoli lose elastic recoil, making it difficult to fully exhale trapped air.

Kyphosis, scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis

Kyphosis = excessive posterior (front-to-back) curvature; scoliosis = lateral (side-to-side) curvature; kyphoscoliosis = a combination of both. Associated with restrictive breathing because abnormal spinal curvature can limit chest expansion.

COPD signs and symptoms

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causing persistent airflow limitation; signs include dyspnea, chronic cough, sputum, wheezing, prolonged expiration, decreased breath sounds, and barrel chest because narrowed airways and air trapping make it difficult to exhale.

Biot vs. ataxic respiration

Both are irregular breathing patterns with periods of apnea. Biot = pons → groups of quick, shallow breaths followed by apnea; ataxic = medulla → completely irregular depth and timing with unpredictable apnea. They can look very similar, but ataxic is more chaotic and severe.

Airway resistance

The resistance to airflow through the airways; increases when airways narrow (bronchoconstriction, mucus, or swelling) and decreases when they dilate. Higher resistance makes it harder to move air, especially during exhalation.

Retractions

Usually inspiratory—the skin pulls inward during inspiration because negative pressure increases as the patient struggles to get air in.

Tracheal tugging

Downward pulling of the trachea during inspiration; a sign of increased work of breathing/respiratory distress because the patient is generating strong negative pressure to pull air into the lungs.

Rapid shallow breathing (restrictive disease breathing sign)

Fast, shallow breaths; associated with restrictive diseases (pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, and atelectasis), pulmonary edema, and respiratory distress because reduced lung compliance or impaired oxygenation makes deep breaths difficult.

Prolonged exhalation (obstructive disease breathing sign)

Exhaling takes longer than normal; associated with obstructive diseases (COPD, emphysema, and asthma) because narrowed airways make it difficult for air to leave the lungs, causing air trapping.

Apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing; associated with sleep apnea, CNS depression, brainstem injury, severe respiratory failure, and airway obstruction because respiratory drive can be suppressed or airflow can be completely blocked.

Apneustic breathing

Prolonged, deep inspiration followed by inadequate expiration; associated with damage to the pons because the pons normally helps regulate and switch off inspiration.

Asthmatic breathing

Difficult, prolonged expiration with wheezing and increased work of breathing; associated with asthma/bronchoconstriction because narrowed airways make it difficult to move air out.

Intracranial pressure

Pressure inside the skull; increased ICP can cause hyperventilation because the body may increase breathing to lower CO₂, which causes cerebral blood vessels to constrict and temporarily decrease blood flow and pressure in the brain.

Kussmaul breathing

Deep, rapid, labored breathing caused by metabolic acidosis, especially DKA; the body is trying to blow off CO₂ to lower acidity and raise blood pH, compensating for excess acids (ketones).

Periodic breathing (periodic apnea)

A repeating pattern of increasing and decreasing breath depth followed by periods of apnea; associated with heart failure, brain injury, and high altitude because unstable respiratory control causes breathing to repeatedly speed up, slow down, and stop.

Hoover sign

During inspiration, the lower ribs move inward instead of outward; associated with severe COPD/emphysema because hyperinflated lungs flatten the diaphragm, causing it to pull the lower ribs inward during inspiration.

Signs of diaphragmatic fatigue

Rapid shallow breathing, paradoxical abdominal movement, accessory muscle use, retractions, and decreased breath sounds; associated with severe respiratory distress because the diaphragm is tiring and can no longer generate enough force to maintain effective ventilation.

Tracheal deviation

A shift of the trachea away from its normal midline position; atelectasis → shifts toward the collapsed lung because volume is lost and the affected side pulls the trachea inward. Tension pneumothorax → shifts away from the affected side because trapped air creates pressure that pushes the trachea to the opposite side