Respiratory Emergencies

A Comprehensive Look

Respiratory system Provided for the passage of O2 to enter Necessary for energy production and for CO2 to exit Waste product of body’s metabolism.

Upper airway Mouth and nose to larynx Nasopharynx: Tonsils, uvula Oropharynx: Tongue

Uvula

composed of connective tissue containing a number of racemose glands, and some muscular fibers

Lower Airway Below the larynx to the alveoli

Pharynx Muscular tube Extends vertically from back of the soft

palate to superior aspect of the esophagus

Allows air to flow in and out of the respiratory tract and food to pass into the digestive tract

Larynx Joins the pharynx with the trachea Consists of the thyroid and cricoid

cartilage, glottic opening, vocal cords, cricothyroid membrane.

Trachea: 10 to 12 centimeter long tube that connects the

larynx to the two mainstem bronchi. Lined with respiratory epithelium containing

cilia and mucous producing cells. Mucous traps particles that the upper airway

did not filter. Cilia move the trapped particles up into the

mouth where it is expelled or swallowed.

Bronchi: At the carina bifurcates into the right a left mainstem bronchi.Alveoli Bronchioles divide into the alveolar ducts and terminates into the alveoli Comprise the key functional unit of the respiratory system Contain an alveolar membrane that is only 2 cells thick Most CO2 and O2 exchange takes place Become thinner as they expand Surface area totals more than 20 square meters, enough to cover half a

tennis court The hollow structure resists collapse due to the presence of a surfactant, a

chemical that decreases their surface tension and makes it easier for them to expand.

Carina

Atelectasis Aveolar collapseLung Parenchyma Parenchyma: Principal or essential parts of an

organ Organized into the lobes Right lung has three lobes where as the left

lung has only two as it shares thoracic space with the heart.

Pleura Membranous connective tissue that

covers the lungs Visceral: Envelopes the lungs and does

not contain nerve tissue Parietal: Lines the Thoracic cavity and

contains nerve fibers

RESPIRATION AND VENTILATION Ventilation: The mechanical process that moves air into

and out of the lungs Pulmonary or external respiration: Alveoli Cellular or internal respiration occurs in the peripheral

capillaries It is the exchange of respiratory gases between the RBCs and various body tissues

Cellular respiration in the peripheral tissue produces CO2 which is picked up by the blood in the capillaries and transports it as bicarbonate ions through the venous system to the lungs.

RESPIRATORY CYCLE Nothing within the lung parenchyma makes it contract or

expand Ventilation depends upon changes of pressure within the

thoracic cavity Begins when the lungs have achieved a normal expiration and

the pressure inside the thoracic cavity is equal to the atmospheric pressure

Respiratory centers in the brain communicate with the diaphragm by way of the phrenic nerve, signaling it to contract. This initiates the respiratory cycle

Then……….

Thorax increases; pressure within decreases; becomes lower than atmospheric pressure; with the negative pressure, air rushes in; the alveoli inflate with the lungs, becoming thinner allowing oxygen and CO2 to diffuse across their membranes.

When the pressure in the thoracic cavity is again that of the atmospheric pressure, the alveoli are maximally inflated.

Pulmonary expansion stimulates microscopic stretch receptors in the bronchi and bronchioles that signal the respiratory center by way of the vegus nerve to inhibit respiration and the influx of air stops.

At the end of respiration: Respiratory muscles relax Size of the chest cavity decreases Elastic lungs recoil forcing air out of the lungs

(expiration)

Expiration is passive Respiration is active process using

energy

Use of Accessory muscles: Strap muscles of the neck, and

abdominal muscles to augment efforts to expand the thoracic cavity

Pulmonary Circulation During each cardiac cycle, the heart

pumps just as much blood to the lungs as it does to the peripheral tissues.

Bronchial arteries that branch from the aorta supply most of their blood.

Bronchial veins return blood from the lungs to the superior vena cava.

Hypoventilation: Reduction in breathing rate and depth

Pneumothorax: Air or gas in the pleural cavity

Hemothorax: Accumulation of blood or fluid containing blood in the pleural cavity

Pulmonary embolism: Blood clot that travels to the pulmonary circulation and hinders oxygenation of blood

Hypoxic Drive The body constantly monitors the PaO2 and the pH. COPD Chronically elevated PaCO2 Body no longer uses PaCO2 levels to stimulate breathing Hypoxic drive increases respiratory stimulation when

PaO2 level falls and inhibits respiratory stimulation when PaO2 levels increase.

Hypoxemia: Decreases partial pressure of oxygen in the blood

Respiratory Acidosis: Retention of CO2 can result from impaired ventilation due to problems occurring in either the lungs or in the respiratory center of the brain.

Respiratory Alkalosis results from increased respiration and excessive elimination of CO2.

MEASURES OF RESPIRATORY FUNCTION Respiratory rate: Adults 12 to 20 Children 18 to 24 Infants 40 to 60Eupnea: Normal Respiration Fever Increases Emotion Increases Pain Increases Hypoxia Increases Acidosis Increases Stimulant Drugs Increases Depressant Drugs Decreases Sleep Decreases

Total Lung Capacity Total amount of air contained in the lung at the end of the maximal

respiration 6LTidal Volume Average volume of gas inhaled or exhaled in one respiratory cycle 500 mL (5 to 7 cc/kg)Dead Space VolumeThe amount of gas in the tidal volume that remains in the airpassageways unavailable for gas exchange. Anatomic dead space includes the trachea and bronchi Physiologic dead space from COPD, obstruction or atelactesis 150 ml

Minute Volume Amount of gas moved in and out of the

respiratory tract in one minute Vmin = VT x Respiratory Rate Alveolar Minute Volume Amount of gas that reaches the alveoli for

gas exchange in one minute VA-min = (VT – VD) X Respiratory rate

RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS Dyspnea: An abnormality of breathing

rate, pattern, or effort Hypoxia: Oxygen deficiency Anoxia: The absence or near-absence

of oxygen

Modified forms of respiration Coughing: forceful exhalation of a large volume of air form the

lungs, expelling foreign materials from the lungs Sneezing: Sudden forceful exhalation from the nose. Nasal

irritation Hiccoughing: Sudden inspiration; caused by spasmodic

contraction of the diaphragm with spasmodic closure of the glottis. No physiologic purpose. Occasionally been associated with MI on the inferior (diaphragmatic) surface of the heart

Sighing: Slow, deep, involuntary inspiration followed by a prolonged expiration; hyperventilates the lungs and reexpands atlectatic alveoli; occurs once a minute

Grunting: Forceful expiration; occurs against a partially closed epiglottis; usually an indication of respiratory distress.

Accessory Respiratory Muscles: Intercostal Suprasternal Supraclavicular Subcostal retractions Abdominal musclesIn Infants Nasal flaring Grunting

COPD

Purse their lips

Pulsus ParadoxusComparison of blood pressure between that ofinspiration and that of exhalation A drop in blood pressure greater than 10 torr Drop in blood pressure during inspiration Drop is due to increased pressure in the

thoracic cavity that impairs the inability of the ventricles to fill.

ABNORMAL RESPIRATORY PATTERNSKusssmaul’s Respirations Deep, slow or rapid, gasping breathing, Commonly found in diabetic ketoacidosisCheyne-Stokes Respirations Progressively deeper, faster breathing alternating gradually

with shallow, slower breathing. Indicates brain-stem injuryBiot’s Respirations Irregular pattern of rate and depth with sudden, periodic

episodes of apnea Indicates increased intracranial pressure

Central Neurogenic hyperventilation Deep, rapid respirations Indicates increased intracranial pressure

Agonal Respirations Shallow, slow, or infrequent breathing Indicates brain anoxia

Rales: Fine, bubbling sound; on inspiration; fluid in smaller bronchioles

Rhonchi; Course, rattling noise on inspiration; associated with inflammation, mucous or fluid in the bronchioles

Stridor: Harsh, high-pitched heard on inhalation; laryngeal edema or constriction

Snoring: Partial obstruction of the upper airway by the tongue

Gurgling: Accumulation of blood, vomitus, or other secretions in the upper airway

Tension Pnuemothorax Any tear in the lung parenchyma can cause a pneumothorax. Tension: Large pneumothorax that affects other structures in

the chest Progressively worsening compliance when bagging Diminished unilateral breath sounds Hypoxia with hypotension Distended neck veins Marked increase in pressure can prevent ventricles from

adequately filling decreasing cardiac output Tracheal deviation

Tachypnea/Bradypnea Respiratory effort: How hard a patient

has to work to breathe Orthopnea: Difficulty breathing while

lying supine

Hypothermia Combines the mechanisms of convection, radiation, and

evaporation Accounts for a large proportion of the body’s heat loss Heat is transferred to from the lungs to inspired air by

convection and radiation Evaporation in the lungs humidifies the inspired air. During expiration, warm humidified air is released into the

environment, creating heat loss

Respiratory Shock Respiratory system is not able to bring oxygen

into the alveoli and remove CO2 Blood leaves the pulmonary circulation without

adequate oxygen and with an excess of CO2 The cells become hypoxic while the

bloodstream becomes acidic

RESPIRATORY CONTROL Respiratory centers within the brainstem control

respiration Inspiration and expiration occur automatically and are

triggered by impulses generated in the respiratory center of the medulla oblongata during normal respiration

The medullary respiratory system contains chemoreceptors that respond to changes in the CO2 and pH levels in the CSF

CO2 rapidly diffuses across the blood-brain barrier in to the CSF while H+ and bicarbonate ions do not.

Two Respiratory Centers in the PonsApneustic Located in the lower pons Acts as a shut-off switch to inspiration If non-functional, prolonged inspiration interrupted by occasional expirationPneumotaxic Center Located in the upper pons Moderates the activity of the apneustic center and provide fine tuningMedulla Oblongata CO2 receptorsInternal Carotid Arteries CO2, O2 and B/P receptorsAorta CO2, O2 and B/P receptorsLungs Stretch receptors

Pons Modifies rate and depth of breathing

Medulla Oblongata Sets basic rate and depth of breathing

Nasal Canulae 4 to 6 liters per minute 22 to 44% oxygen

Non-rebreather 10 to 15 liters per minute 80 to 100% oxygen

Inhaler: Bronchodilator

Inhaler: Stimulation of the Sympathetic Nervous System

One metered dose

Inhalerpurse lips around inhalerdepress inhaler as patient inhales

deeplyPatient hold their breath for a few

seconds

Inhaler: Breathing difficulties with history of COPD/Asthma

Inhaler

The patient is not responsive enough

The maximum dose has been taken