Questions and Answers.
Disphagia - Answer difficulty swallowing
Hypoxia - Answer Inadequate tissue oxygenation at cellular level
Includes restlessness, confusion, cyanosis (bluish skin), dyspnoea (difficult breathing), increased
heart and respiratory rates, fatigue and clubbing of fingers in chronic situations
Cyanosis - Answer bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes
- central cyanosis: poor arterial oxygenation, bluish tongue/oral mucosa/conjunctivae
(eye/eyelids)
- peripheral cyanosis: in extremities, may be due to peripheral vasoconstriction (increases blood
pressure)
Physical signs of respiratory distress - Answer Use of accessory muscles, diaphoresis
(sweating), hypoxia, increased respiratory rate, gasping
Hyperventilation - Answer Increased breathing, ventilation excess required to eliminate
carbon dioxide produced by cellular metabolism, may lead to respiratory alkalosis (increased
blood pH)
hypoventilation - Answer Shallow slow breathing, alveolar ventilation is inadequate to meet
oxygen demand or to eliminate sufficient carbon dioxide, may lead to respiratory acidosis
(decreased blood pH)
dyspnoea - Answer Difficulty breathing, clinical sign of hypoxia
orthopnoea - Answer Difficulty breathing when lying down
Apnoea - Answer Absence of breathing
hypercapnea - Answer Elevated levels of CO2 in blood (CO2 is retained)
Chest pain - Answer Pressure, squeezing, burning or tightness in chest
, -May radiate to arms/neck/jaw/back
-May be brought on by stress, exercise
Activity intolerance and fatigue - Answer Disruption to normal daily activities due to tiredness
Psychosocial impacts - Answer Impaired coping ability and fear
Deteriorating overall health leading to decreased independence and quality of life
Myocardial infarction - Answer A sudden loss of blood and oxygen to part of the myocardium
and a section of heart muscle dies
An arrhythmia - Answer An interruption of normal cardiac conduction patterns
Nasal cannula - Answer Commonly used in hospitals for little oxygen, regularly inspect skin
Litre flow: 1-4L/min
FIO2: 24-36% (up 4%/L)
FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen) - Answer Estimated oxygen content a person inhales
What is the FIO2 in room air? - Answer FIO2 of 21%
Simple face mask (or Hudson mask) - Answer Short-term oxygen delivery
Litre flow: 5-6L/min & 6-7L/min
FIO2: 40% & 50%
Partial rebreather mask - Answer Litre flow: 7L/min & 8-15L/min
FIO2: 65% & 70-80%
Simple face mask/partial rebreather mask - Answer Litre flow: 7-8L/min
FIO2: 60%