CHEST AND LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT DISORDERS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Atelectasis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅collapse or airless condition of alveoli caused by hypoventilation,
obstruction to airways, or compression.
*Causes:* bronchial obstruction by secretions d/t impaired cough mechanism or conditions that restrict
normal lung expansion on inspiration.
*Post-op pts at high risk*: **shallow, monotonous (dull, tedious, and repetitious) respiratory patterns**
because they are in pain from surgery
Plural effusion, pneumothorax,hemothorax, pericardial effusion, tumor, abdominal distension
What will we see in patients with atelectasis? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅*Symptoms:* insidious
(proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects)- include cough, sputum production, low-
grade fever
Occur if large areas of lung are affected=
Respiratory distress, anxiety, plural pain, tachycardia, tachypnea (trying to compensate by speeding up),
symptoms of hypoxia
*Late sign:* cyanosis, confusion, decreased LOC
How can we prevent atelectasis from happening? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-turn and position frequently
(semi-fowler's)
-get out of bed to chair early post op
-DB&C (deep breath and cough)
-IS
-Treat pain but prevent sedation
-postural drainage and CPT: chestphysiotherapy = helps release secretions
-Suctioning
Nursing management for patient's with atelectasis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-improve ventilation
, -remove secretions
-tx: PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) helps clear mucus & increase stroke volume, improving
oxygentation, IPPB (intermittent positive-pressure breathing)
-Bronchoscopy may be used to remove obstruction
-Thoracentesis: to relieve compression around the lungs
-Reairate
pg 489
*May see atelectasis before sx appear as patchy infiltrates or consolidated areas on the x-ray*
What will you do if a pt is coughing a lot? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅1. Increase fluids
2. Nebulizer: albuterol (ae: palpatations)
zopenex (less tachycardic)
3. PT
4. Bronchoscopy
*If it leads to resp failure then...*
5. Intubate
Pulmonary Infections: 5 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅▪ Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)—viral, no
cases reported since 2004, CDC
▪ Lung abscess
▪ Tuberculosis
▪ Tracheobronchitis
▪ Pneumonia
Pulmonary Infection: TB - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus (TB)
11,182 cases reported in the United States in 2010
ANSWERS
Atelectasis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅collapse or airless condition of alveoli caused by hypoventilation,
obstruction to airways, or compression.
*Causes:* bronchial obstruction by secretions d/t impaired cough mechanism or conditions that restrict
normal lung expansion on inspiration.
*Post-op pts at high risk*: **shallow, monotonous (dull, tedious, and repetitious) respiratory patterns**
because they are in pain from surgery
Plural effusion, pneumothorax,hemothorax, pericardial effusion, tumor, abdominal distension
What will we see in patients with atelectasis? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅*Symptoms:* insidious
(proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects)- include cough, sputum production, low-
grade fever
Occur if large areas of lung are affected=
Respiratory distress, anxiety, plural pain, tachycardia, tachypnea (trying to compensate by speeding up),
symptoms of hypoxia
*Late sign:* cyanosis, confusion, decreased LOC
How can we prevent atelectasis from happening? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-turn and position frequently
(semi-fowler's)
-get out of bed to chair early post op
-DB&C (deep breath and cough)
-IS
-Treat pain but prevent sedation
-postural drainage and CPT: chestphysiotherapy = helps release secretions
-Suctioning
Nursing management for patient's with atelectasis - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅-improve ventilation
, -remove secretions
-tx: PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) helps clear mucus & increase stroke volume, improving
oxygentation, IPPB (intermittent positive-pressure breathing)
-Bronchoscopy may be used to remove obstruction
-Thoracentesis: to relieve compression around the lungs
-Reairate
pg 489
*May see atelectasis before sx appear as patchy infiltrates or consolidated areas on the x-ray*
What will you do if a pt is coughing a lot? - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅1. Increase fluids
2. Nebulizer: albuterol (ae: palpatations)
zopenex (less tachycardic)
3. PT
4. Bronchoscopy
*If it leads to resp failure then...*
5. Intubate
Pulmonary Infections: 5 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅▪ Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)—viral, no
cases reported since 2004, CDC
▪ Lung abscess
▪ Tuberculosis
▪ Tracheobronchitis
▪ Pneumonia
Pulmonary Infection: TB - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus (TB)
11,182 cases reported in the United States in 2010
