Respiratory function

Oxygen is suppHed quite routinely to patients suffering impaired respiratory function as weU as in other situations where oxygen is deemed to be useflil. The pure oxygen, with humidification, is deHvered via a simple double tube (cannula) to a point just inside the nostrils where the 99.5% gas blends with the room air (21% O2), and is inhaled. The concentration of oxygen that reaches the lungs thus depends on the rate and volume of air inhaled and on the exit flow of oxygen from the cannula, usually one to six L/min. 

E. PucheUe, ed.. Rheology of Bronchial Secretions and Respiratory Functions, Masson and Co., Paris, 1973. 

ASPHYXIA The result of a diminished supply of oxygen to the blood and tissues and interference with the respiratory function. Simple anoxia may be caused by inert gases , e.g. nitrogen, and some flammable gases, e.g. methane. Toxic anoxia may be caused by certain substances, e.g. carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, which interfere with the body s ability to transfer or utilize oxygen in the tissues. Rapid unconsciousness and death can occur in either case. 

Effects of given concentrations of nitrogen oxides are listed in Table 5.33 the margin between concentrations that provoke mild symptoms and those proving to be fatal is small. A person with a normal respiratory function may be affected by exposure to as low as 5 ppm diseases such as bronchitis may be aggravated by such exposures. The current 8 hr TWA OES is 3 ppm with an STEL (page 99) of 5 ppm. 

Health surveillance on a regular basis covering skin inspections, enquiries/tests relating to respiratory function consider the need to screen out staff with medical histories of allergic reactions. 

Rl 0AVIRIN. This drug can cause worsening of the respiratory status. Sudden deterioration of respiratory status can occur in infants receiving ribavirin. It is important to monitor respiratory function closely throughout therapy. The nurse should immediately report any worsening of respiratory function to the primary health care provider. 

Ribavirin The patient is told that this drug is given with a small-particle aerosol generator. Any worsening of respiratory function, dizziness, confusion, or... 

MONITORING AND MANAGING RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION These drugs depress the CNS and can cause respiratory depression. The nurse carefully assesses respiratory function (rate, depth, and quality) before administering a sedative, Vs, to 1 hour after administering the drug, and frequently thereafter. Toxic reaction of the barbiturates can cause severe respiratory depression, hypoventilation, and circulatory collapse. 

Reviews the signs and symptoms of possible adverse reactions and impaired respiratory function, including changes in cough, color and amount of sputum, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing and stresses the need to notify health care provider at once should any occur. 

Ephedra (sea grape, ma-huang, yellow horse) ephedra sinica Relieves colds, improves respiratory function, headaches, diuretic effects 3heart rate, psychosis l hedra should only be used after consulting with the physician. Many restrictions apply and the herb can cause serious reactions. Do not use with cardiac glycosides, monoamine oxidase inhibitor halothane, guanethidine, (MAOIs) or oxytocin. Do not use with 3. John s wort or in weight loss formulas. 

Human respiratory functions may be impaired. Elevated levels of metals have been observed in some foods and drinking water in some locations. Masonry works, stone structures and heritage sculptures are subject to accelerated rates of erosion. 

Irregular respiration was observed in both male and female rats after a 4-hour nose-only inhalation exposure to aerosolized endosulfan (Hoechst 1983a). In both male and female rats, dyspnea was observed at the lowest concentrations tested (12.3 and 3.6 mg/m for males and females, respectively). Autopsies of the rats that died revealed dark-red, pinhead-sized foci on the lungs. It is unclear whether these effects represent direct effects of inhaled endosulfan on respiratory tissues or whether they are secondary to central nervous system effects on respiratory function. No treatment-related effects were... 

Mauderly, J.L. (1984). Respiratory function responses of animals and man to oxidant gases and to pulmonary emphysema. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 13, 345-361. 

People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (i.e., a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders)... 

The trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine can be administered to all age groups and risk populations. It is recommended that the vaccine be administered yearly to children older than 6 months of age at risk for complications from influenza, such as those with asthma, cardiac disease, sickle cell disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, diabetes, and other conditions that compromise respiratory function. Healthy children 6 to 23 months of age should be vaccinated because of the increased risk for influenza-related... 

Influenza vaccine should be given yearly to all adults 50 years of age or older. Younger adults with chronic disorders of the cardiovascular or pulmonary systems, chronic metabolic diseases, renal dysfunction, immunosuppression, or disorders that compromise respiratory function should also be vaccinated. Women who will be pregnant during the winter months should be vaccinated against influenza. 

Respiratory Effects. The only information located regarding respiratory effects in humans associated with lead exposure was a case report of a 41-year-old man who was exposed to lead for 6 years while removing old lead-based paint from a bridge. At the time of the initial assessment, his PbB level was 87 pg/dL, and he complained of mild dyspnea for the last 2-3 years. No abnormalities in respiratory function were seen at clinical examination, so it is not possible to conclude that his respiratory symptoms were related to exposure to lead (Pollock and Ibels 1986). 

Clinical pharmacological studies to specifically address the effect of rifaximin on GI or CY and respiratory functions have not been performed. However, while the most frequently reported, albeit few, adverse events associated with rifaximin administration were gastrointestinal in nature, no untoward reactions involving the CV or respiratory systems have been described [33, 117]. 

Treatment primarily consists of supportive care. Ventilate patient if they have difficulty breathing and administer oxygen. Be prepared to treat for shock. Monitor and support cardiac and respiratory functions as necessary. If the identity of the toxin is known, administer antidote if available. Unlike chemical agents, toxins can cause an immune response. Vaccines are available for some toxins but generally require more than 4 weeks for the body to produce antibodies. Passive immunotherapy is effective for some neurotoxins but must be instituted shortly after exposure. The utility of antibody therapy drops sharply at or shortly after the onset of the first signs of disease. 

Failure/ineffective functioning of one or more of these mechanisms can impair normal respiratory function. Emphysema, for example, is a condition in which the alveoli of the lungs are damaged. This compromises the lung s capacity to exchange gases, and breathlessness often results. This condition is often promoted by smoking, respiratory infections or a deficiency in the production of serum arantitrypsin. 

The lungs, in which mucus compromises respiratory function. 

Although therapeutic approaches based upon gene therapy (Chapter 14) may well one day cure cystic fibrosis, current therapeutic intervention focuses upon alleviating cystic fibrosis symptoms, particularly those relating to respiratory function. Improved patient care has increased life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients to well into their 30s. The major elements of cystic fibrosis management include ... 

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