Signs and Symptoms
This is air in the tissue and can sometimes be found around an open wound to the chest or a chest tube.
What is subcutaneous emphysema?
This is key patient and nursing priority for patients with a chest tube in place (after the ABCDE’s are managed).
What is pain management?
This is the usual cause of a spontaneous pneumothorax in an otherwise healthy individual.
What is the rupture of a bleb or bulla?
This is a diagnostic used to confirm a pneumothorax.
What is a chest x-ray?
This is an expected finding when percussing over the lung field area of a pneumothorax
What is hyperresonance?
This is the best way to position a patient with a pneumothorax or a pleural effusion.
What is with the HOB 45 degrees (or sitting up with pillows to support)?
These are the top 2 common causes of a pleural effusion.
What is CHF, cancers and pneumonias?
This is a lab value that might indicate a pleural effusion is from a bacterial origin such as an empyema.
What is an elevated white blood cell count (or WBCs in the pleural fluid)?
Seeing distended neck veins in a patient with a pneumothorax might indicate this.
What is a tension pneumothorax?
This is the rationale for using a diuretic when providing nursing care to a patient with a pleural effusion
What is to “treat the underlying cause” in a clinical case such as CHF?
In a ventilated patient, this is what can lead to an elevated risk of a pneumothorax?
What is too high positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP)?
This is an expected finding on the ABG of a patient with a significant pneumothorax.
What is a low PaO2?
An anticipated abnormal finding in a patient with a pneumothorax may be this kind of chest wall movement.
What is asymmetrical?
These are assessment findings that prompt the nurse to worry about a patient with a DVT developing a PE.
What is SOB, chest pain, sense of doom, pallor etc...?
Pregnancy and birth can be a risk factor for this acute respiratory alteration.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
A negative D-dimer can help rule out this acute alteration.
What is a pulmonary embolism?
This finding is a strong indicator of a tension pneumothorax and indicates emergency intervention is needed.
What is tracheal deviation?
This is the nurse’s #1 priority to assess and intervene on first with any patient with respiratory alterations.
What is AIRWAY?
In a patient involved in a MVC, this injury should prompt the nurse to assess for signs of a pneumothorax.
What is rib fractures?
This is the diagnostic of choice for a pulmonary embolism.
What is a CT Scan?