Pediatric Considerations
When performing artificial ventilations for an adult, you need to perform them at this rate using a BVM and with this flow rate (typically).
What is 12 ventilations per minute and 15L?
The stage of inadequate breathing that is characterized by a patient who has a respiratory problem but the body's compensatory mechanisms are meeting the increased demands. So far, the person simply has increased work of breathing and probably a sensation of "shortness of breath."
What is respiratory distress?
An active process that is part of breathing in which the diaphragm contracts.
What is inhalation?
This is a disease that is seen in both young and old patients that has episodic exacerbations of flares (it occurs at irregular intervals)....it does not produce a hypoxic drive. It can be life-threatening. Many patients that are diagnosed as having this carry a metered-dose inhaler. During an attack, bronchioles narrow and there is an overproduction of mucus and these results restrict airflow.
What is asthma?
A disease caused by a bacterial infection that often presents with a high fever, respiratory distress, and stridor. It causes swelling/drooling.
What is epiglottitis?
Any water-based lubricant (no petroleum).
What is the type of lubricant that must be used when applying an adjunct (nasopharyngeal)?
these are the three regions of the pharynx
What are oropharynx, nasopharynx, and laryngopharynx?
The diseases categorized by this title (chronic bronchitis, emphysema and black lung) usually occur in older patients because they take time to develop. Usually these diseases are managed but the need for an ambulance occurs after one of these patients suffers a recent upper respiratory infection. The patient may have a fever and spit up a lot of mucus. The patients may have developed a hypoxic drive that MAY cause the patient to stop breathing when oxygen is administered over a longer period of time, thus, in EMS, we do not withhold O2 from a patient who needs it.
What is COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)?
A group of viral illnesses that result in inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi. It often occurs at night and can follow a cold or other respiratory infection. Tissues in the upper airway become swollen and restrict the passage of air.
What is croup?
Name one indication and one contraindication for using a French Tip Catheter
Flexible suction catheters that are designed to be used when rigid catheters are not able to be used. They are not very good at suctioning out vomit or thick secretions--only much easier fluids. They can be passed through adjuncts.
A voice change that reflects narrowing of the upper airway passages. Often can appear and then increase in severity over the course of your assessment of a burn patient.
What is hoarseness?
This is caused by an infection of one or both of the lungs. Common signs/symptoms are coughing, mucus, fever, chest pain, severe chills, shortness of breath, chest pain that is sharp and pleuritic (worsens on inhalation), headache, sweaty/pale skin, fatigue, confusion, etc. You may hear crackles when you auscultate. Depending on the stage this may not require hospitalization but can also be life threatening--especially to the chronically ill or elderly.
What is pneumonia?
This is the normal rate of breathing for an infant.
What is 25-50 breaths/minute?
Describe the method for assisting a patient with his/her metered dose inhaler.
What is it called when a patient is in a state of respiratory distress and you do the following: 1) Assure the 5 "rights" 2) Check to see if patient has already taken dosages. 3) Shake the inhaler 4) Have patient exhale deeply 5) Have patient seal mouth around opening of inhaler or spacer 6) Have patient inhale deeply as she/he depresses the inhaler 7) have patient hold his/her breath for as long as possible. Repeat.
When a patient has lips, tongue, ear lobes, or nail beds they have this condition.
What is cyanosis.
This is the name of the condition when something that is not blood--like a clot, air, or fat, gets trapped while trying to move through the blood vessels, it gets stuck and blocks an artery in the lungs.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
This is the approximate age when a child's airway structures become more like an adult's.
What is 8 years old?
Describe the advantages of using a nebulizer?
Unlike the inhaler which is used for only one breath, this produces a continuous flow of aerosolized medication that can be taken during multiple breaths over several minutes giving the patient a greater exposure to the medication. It is another method for disseminating the same types of medication as an inhaler.
This is when a lung collapses without injury or any other obvious cause. Often the patient has sharp pleuritic chest pain and shortness of breath....they may tire easily, be tachycardic, breath fast, and have low oxygen saturation. They may also be cyanotic.
What is a spontaneous pneumothorax?
Name 2 stuctures of the upper airway, and 2 structures of the lower airway.
Upper airway:
mouth, nose, nasopharynx, larynx
Lower airway:
trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, lungs
This is a genetic disease that appears in childhood. It causes thick, sticky mucus that accumulates in the lungs or digestive system. The mucus can cause life-threatening lung infections and serious problems with digestion. You may notice coughing, fatigue, frequent pneumonia, abdominal pain, coughing up blood, nausea, and weight loss.
What is cystic fibrosis?