7 Respiratory Emergencies Free Online FlashCards

What should guide assessment of possible respiratory failure?

Assess work of breathing, speech, mental status, air movement, and oxygenation trends; a pulse-oximeter reading alone does not show the whole picture.

What is respiratory failure?

Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs cannot adequately oxygenate blood, remove carbon dioxide, or do both.

When should emergency response be activated for breathing problems?

Activate emergency response for severe distress, suspected airway obstruction, rapidly worsening symptoms, altered consciousness, or inadequate breathing.

What initial bronchodilator support is used for an acute asthma exacerbation?

Use the patient's prescribed rapid-relief inhaler if available and give inhaled short-acting bronchodilator treatment under the applicable protocol.

What changes commonly suggest a COPD exacerbation?

A COPD exacerbation commonly causes increased breathlessness, cough, and changes in sputum amount or purulence.

Which conditions make noninvasive ventilation unsafe?

Avoid noninvasive ventilation when the patient cannot protect the airway, is vomiting, is severely unstable, or is deteriorating; seek urgent expert airway support.

When are antibiotics considered for pneumonia?

Antibiotics are not automatically indicated for every viral respiratory illness; clinicians use appropriate antimicrobial treatment when bacterial pneumonia is suspected.

What sequence is recommended for severe choking in a conscious adult?

For a conscious adult with severe foreign-body airway obstruction, give cycles of 5 back blows followed by 5 abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or the person becomes unresponsive.

What can a quiet chest mean during severe wheezing?

In a patient with severe wheezing, a quiet chest can mean critically poor airflow, not improvement.

Which symptoms can indicate carbon-dioxide retention?

Carbon-dioxide retention can cause headache, drowsiness, confusion, or reduced consciousness; a reassuring oxygen saturation does not rule it out.

What oxygen-saturation targets are commonly used for adults?

A common adult oxygen-saturation target is 94–98%; for known or suspected risk of hypercapnic failure, use 88–92% while awaiting blood-gas results and an individualized plan, unless life-threatening hypoxemia needs urgent correction.

How often should trained responders ventilate an adult with a pulse?

For an adult with a pulse, trained responders should give about one breath every 6 seconds, enough to produce visible chest rise.