This is the succinct, accepted method of reporting this data, which is most helpful for evaluating the patient and her current condition. It is widely acknowledged as the recognized metric for determining smoking history.
Pack-years = number of packs per day x number of years smoked
The other responses lack specificity.
Nebulizers are used to administer medication directly to the lungs, especially for patients with respiratory conditions
CPAP is commonly used to treat sleep apnea by providing continuous airflow to keep the airway open.
Incentive spirometry helps patients improve lung function and prevent respiratory complications.
Providing dental cleanings is not within the scope of practice for respiratory therapists.
All we know for sure is that there is a reduced vital capacity (shallow breathing). Some people who have suffered a chest wall injury or undergone thoracic or abdominal surgery will breathe more slowly as a result of the pain. In addition, a number of lung diseases and neuromuscular conditions can make a patient's breathing shallow. The other responses draw conclusions that are not backed up by our observation.
Mechanical ventilation assists patients who are unable to breathe effectively on their own.
A respiratory therapist is not permitted to alter doctor's orders, ignore them, or merely modify them. However, despite having distinct names and dosage forms, Combivent and DuoNeb are the same drugs (albuterol plus atrovent). The respiratory therapist should get in touch with the doctor to let them know about the duplicate and ask for more advice.
Respiratory therapists may assist in performing X-rays to diagnose lung and chest conditions.
Despite not being particularly severe, the general wheezing in the lung field raises the potential of asthma. The connection between these episodes and grass mowing lends weight to this as a potential diagnosis. The methacholine challenge test and fundamental spirometry will confirm or disprove the diagnosis of asthma. The albuterol inhaler may help with the wheezing, but it won't reveal much about the cause.
In less than two seconds, the nail bed will turn pink once more under normal circulation and perfusion. The nail bed would be bluish if there was cyanosis. Anemia has no impact on this particular test unless the anemia is severe, in which case the nail bed would not ""pink up.""
Respiratory therapists specialize in treating patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders.
The duty is to notify the charge nurse as soon as possible if the patient gets asystolic and then becomes apneic. Resuscitation procedures including chest compressions, intubation, and bag-mask breathing are all against the wishes of this patient, as shown by their ""do not resuscitate"" code status.
Anesthesia is often administered during a bronchoscopy to ensure patient comfort.
Asthma is a common respiratory disorder that respiratory therapists often treat.
Hematocrit, SpO2, heart rate, and respiratory rate are all within normal ranges. Low hemoglobin levels. SpO2 94%-99%, pulse 60-80 bpm, respiratory rate 12-20 rpm, hemoglobin 12-15 g/dL, and hematocrit 37%-46% are considered to be within normal ranges.
