Transcript Treatment
Respiratory System
Part 2
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases
(COPD)
COPD is a term to describe many respiratory problems.
1. Asthma – allergic disorder caused by swelling
and inflammation of the airways, production of
mucus, and tightening of muscles that surround
airways.
Symptoms - cough, breathing difficulty, wheezing
Treatment – bronchodilators (albuterol, xopenex)
2. Emphysema – progressive loss of lung function
due to damage to alveoli
Symptoms – rapid, shallow, difficult respirations
Upper Respiratory System
Pathology
1. Croup – acute illness in infants and children
Symptoms – hoarseness, barking cough,
obstruction of larynx
2. Epistaxis – medical name for nosebleed.
Causes – trauma, blood thinners, bleeding
disorders
www.nlm.nih.gov/.../ency/fullsize/8897.jpg
Upper Respiratory Problems Cont’d.
3. Influenza – also called the “flu”,
contagious viral illness
Causes – spread by droplets
(coughing or sneezing)
4. Pertussis – medical name for whooping cough,
contagious bacterial infection
Symptoms – spasm like coughing fits
Treatment – antibiotics
Prevention – current DPT immunization
5. Rhinorrhea – (rhin/o = nose + -rrhea = discharge)
medical name for runny nose
Pharynx & Larynx Disorders
1. Pharyngitis – also known as a
sore throat (pharyng/o + -itis)
www.lib.uiowa.edu/.../pictures22/strepthroat.jpg
2. Laryngitis – (laryng/o + -itis) causes voice
loss from the inflammation
Trachea & Bronchial Disorders
1. Bronchitis – inflammation of the bronchial
walls, usually caused by infection but can be
caused by smoking
Pleural Cavity Disorders
1. Pleurisy – inflammation of the lining of the
lung
2. Hemothorax – (hem/o + thorax)
accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity,
commonly due to trauma or surgery
Treatment – chest tube
www.itim.nsw.gov.au/images/chest_tube.jpg
Pleural Cavity Disorders Cont’d.
3. Pneumothorax (pneum/o + -thorax)
accumulation of air in the pleural
space causing the lung to collapse
Treatment – chest tube
apps.uwhealth.org/.../images/en/19589.jpg
Lung Disorders
1. Pneumonia – inflammation of the lung where the
lungs fill with pus and other fluids
Causes – bacteria, viral, fungus, chemical
irritants, aspiration of foreign substances
Lung Disorders Cont’d.
2. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) – genetic disorder where
lungs are clogged with abnormally thick mucus
Treatment – antibiotics, postural drainage
Breathing Disorders
1. Tachypnea (tachy- + -pnea) - more than 20
breaths per minute
2. Apnea – absence of breathing
3. Dyspnea (dys/ + -pnea) – difficult or painful
breathing
4. Hyperventilation – abnormally rapid, deep breathing
Lack of Oxygen
1. Airway obstruction – food or foreign object blocks
the airway and prevents air from entering or
leaving the lungs
Treatment – Heimlich maneuver
2. Cyanosis (cyan- + -osis) – bluish color of skin
caused by lack of oxygen
3. Respiratory Failure – level of oxygen in blood is
dangerously low or the carbon dioxide is
dangerously high
Diagnostic Procedures
1. Respiratory Rate (RR) – counted number of
respirations per minute; part of the vital signs;
normal 15-20/min adults
2. Pulmonary function tests – group of tests that
measure lung capacity
3. Chest Xrays – useful to show pneumonia,
tumors, TB, pneumothorax
www.portxray.com/xraylg.gif
Treatments/Procedures of
Respiratory System
1. Septoplasty (sept/o + -plasty) – reconstruction
of the nasal septum
2. Laryngectomy (laryng/o + -ectomy) surgical
removal of the larynx
3. Endotracheal intubation – passage of a tube
through the nose or mouth into the trachea,
used to assist breathing
www.nlm.nih.gov/.../ency/fullsize/9295.jpg
Treatments/Procedures of
Respiratory System Cont’d
4. Tracheostomy (trache/o + -ostomy) surgical
creation of a new opening in the trachea
5. Lobectomy – surgical removal of a lobe of the
lung
6. Thoracotomy (thorac/o + -otomy) - surgical
incision of the thorax
www.health.gov.mt/.../issue19/Omejei/Fig03.jpg
Respiratory Therapy
1. Supplemental oxygen – used to provide more
oxygen to the patient; nasal cannula or mask
may be used
www.nature.com/.../v194/n11/images/4810230f5.jpg
2. Ventilator – mechanical device used to
supplement or replace the patients breathing
function (while in surgery, with spine injury,
etc…)
www.medtech.com.br/.../vdrimage027.jpg
Career Opportunities
Respiratory Therapist – provides oxygen,
gases or medications under a Drs. order
Respiratory Therapy Technician – works
under the supervision of the RT.
www.onwardhealthcare.com/.../allied_main_rt.jpg