TEST 2

Airway & Breathing Basics

  • OPA (Oropharyngeal Airway):

    • Causes gag reflex → REMOVE IT immediately if gag reflex is triggered.

  • Unconscious Vomiting:

    • Action: Roll patient to the side, suction as necessary, and manage the airway.

  • Cheyne‑Stokes Respiration:

    • Characterized by a pattern: slow → fast → stop → repeat.

  • Stroke/Myocardial Infarction Oxygen Administration:

    • Use Non-Rebreather Mask at a rate of 15 L/min.

  • CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure):

    • Function: Pushes air into the lungs and keeps the alveoli open for improved gas exchange.

  • Ventilation vs. Respiration:

    • Ventilation: The act of moving air in and out of the lungs.

    • Respiration: The process of gas exchange; oxygen is absorbed and carbon dioxide is released.

Inadequate Breathing Signs

  • Signs of inadequate breathing include:

    • Breathing that is too slow or too fast.

    • Shallow or irregular breathing patterns.

    • Physical signs: Cyanosis (bluish coloration of the skin), confusion, and use of accessory muscles during breathing.

Shock & Oxygen

  • Unconscious with Severe Bleeding:

    • Action: Use a Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) and administer 15 L of oxygen.

Anatomy Quick Facts

  • Lower Airway Anatomy:

    • Trachea → bronchi → bronchioles → alveoli.

  • Divider Between Upper and Lower Airways:

    • The larynx is the dividing structure.

  • Alveoli:

    • Surrounded by pulmonary capillaries, which facilitate gas exchange.

Hypoxia

  • Late Signs of Hypoxia:

    • Cyanosis, decreased level of consciousness, and slow heart rate.

Positioning

  • Patients with Breathing Trouble:

    • Positioning: Sit the patient upright (Fowler’s position).

  • Patients in Shock:

    • Positioning: Lay flat and keep the patient warm to maintain blood flow.

Blood & Circulation

  • Spleen Function:

    • Filters old red blood cells from circulation.

  • Blood Vessel Types:

    • Pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood to lungs.

    • Pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from lungs to heart.

  • Physiological Response to Blood Loss:

    • Results in increased heart rate and vasoconstriction to conserve blood flow.

Cells & Hormones

  • Erythrocytes:

    • Function: Carry oxygen throughout the body.

  • Leukocytes:

    • Function: Fight off infections as part of the immune response.

  • Hormonal Response:

    • Epinephrine and Norepinephrine: Increase heart rate, elevate blood pressure, and open airways for better airflow.

Heart Cycle

  • Heart Action Phases:

    • Systole: Phase of contraction when the heart pumps blood.

    • Diastole: Phase of relaxation when the heart fills with blood.

Pleura & Major Structures

  • Pleura:

    • Visceral pleura covers the lungs.

    • Parietal pleura lines the chest wall.

  • Inferior Vena Cava:

    • Function: Returns deoxygenated blood from the lower body to the heart.

  • Foramen Magnum:

    • The crucial opening in the skull that allows the spinal cord to pass through.

Critical Emergencies

  • Agonal Breaths:

    • Defined as ineffective breathing efforts → Action: Ventilate with BVM and perform CPR if there is no pulse.

  • Abduction:

    • Movement away from the midline of the body.

  • Breathing Drive Factors:

    • Normal drive to breathe is primarily regulated by CO₂ levels.

    • In patients with COPD, the backup drive to breathe is low oxygen levels.

  • Suctioning Effects:

    • Prolonged suctioning can result in hypoxia (TRUE).