Understand the causes of atelectasis.
- Gas absorption atelectasis- occurs either when there is a complete interruption of ventilation to a section of the lung or when there is a significant shift in V/Q; gas distal to obstruction is absorbed by passing blood
- Lobar atelectasis- can occur when ventilation is compromised in a larger airway or bronchus
- Compression atelectasis-occurs when the transthoracic pressure exceeds the trans alveolar pressure
Identify which patients are at the greatest risk for developing atelectasis and needing lung expansion therapy.
- obesity
- neuromuscular disorders
- heavy sedation
- surgery near diaphragm
- bed ridden/ bed rest
- poor cough
- history of lung disease
- restrictive chest-wall abnormalities
Define the clinical findings seen in atelectasis.
- History of recent major surgery
- Tachypnea
- Fine, late-inspiratory crackles
- Bronchial or diminished breath sounds
- Tachycardia
- Increased density and signs of volume loss on chest radiograph
- History of chronic lung disease or cigarette smoking or both
Describe how lung expansion therapy is able to reverse atelectasis.
- Lung expansion therapy corrects atelectasis by increasing the PAL gradient by either: 1) decreasing the surrounding Ppl or 2) increasing the Palv
- This can be accomplished by deep spontaneous breaths or by the application of positive pressure
- PAL= Palv (alveolar pressure) - Ppl (pleural pressure)
Baseline Assessment
before beginning therapy, a baseline assessment should be conducted
this information helps to individualize the treatment & allows objective evaluation of the patient's subsequent response to therapy
- measuring vital signs
- assessing the patient's appearance & sensorium
- assessing the breathing pattern through chest auscultation
- patient's level of motivation & their ability to follow instructions
Early Mobilization of the Patient
Intensive Care Unit Patients
- evidence supports that it is better for the overall recovery of patients to get them out of the bed and provide early ambulation.
- Complications of prolonged bed rest include: cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and skin integrity issues
- Pulmonary complications of immobility: development of atelectasis, pneumonia, and pulmonary emboli (PE)
- Mobilization includes: not only walking, but also sitting, standing, and getting out of the bed into a chair
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Incentive Spirometry-
- indications- presence of pulmonary atelectasis; presence of conditions predisposing to atelectasis: upper abdominal surgery, thoracic surgery, surgery in patients with COPD; presence of a restrictive lung defect associated with quadriplegia or dysfunctional diaphragm
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Incentive Spirometry Contraindications
Contraindications
- patient cannot be instructed or supervised to ensure appropriate use of device, patient cooperation is absent or patient is unable to understand or demonstrate proper use of device, patient is unable to deep breathe effectively (VC< 10 mL/kg or IC< 1/3 of predicted)
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Incentive Spirometry Hazards and Complications
Hazards & Complications
- hyperventilation & respiratory alkalosis, discomfort secondary to inadequate pain control, pulmonary barotrauma, exacerbation of bronchospasm, fatigue
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing (IPPB) Indications
Indications
- no data to support the use of IPPB as a method of preventing or expanding atelectasis
- patient with atelectasis not responsive to other modalities such as IS
- patient at high risk for atelectasis who cannot perform IS
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing (IPPB) Contraindications
Contraindications
- tension pneumothorax
- ICP > 15 mm Hg
- hemodynamic instability
- active hemoptysis
- tracheoesophageal fistula
- recent esophageal surgery
- radiographic evidence of blebs
- recent facial, oral, or skull surgery
- singulars (hiccups)
- nausea
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing (IPPB) Hazards and Complications
Hazards and Complications
- hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis
- discomfort secondary to inadequate pain control
- pulmonary barotrauma
- exacerbation of bronchospasm
- fatigue
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Indications
Indications
- evidence supports the use of CPAP therapy in the treating postoperative atelectasis, with all mechanical techniques, the duration of beneficial effects appears limited
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Contraindications
Contraindications
- tension pneumothorax / untreated pneumothorax
- ICP > 15 mm Hg
- hemodynamic instability
- active hemoptysis
- tracheoesophageal fistula
- recent esophageal surgery
- radiographic evidence of blebs
- recent facial, oral, or skull surgery
- singulars (hiccups)
- nausea
- hypoventilation
List the indications, hazards and complications associated with the various modes of lung expansion therapy.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Hazards and Complications
Hazards and Complications
- barotrauma, pneumothorax
- nosocomial infection
- hypercarbia
- hemoptysis
- pressure ulcers from mask
- gastric distension
- impaction of secretions (associated with inadequately humidified gas mixture)
- impedance of venous return
- hypoventilation
- increased VD
- vomiting and aspiration
Describe the primary responsibilities of the respiratory therapist in planning, implementing, and evaluating lung expansion therapy.
RTs are responsible for implementing, monitoring and documenting results of lung expansion therapy.
- in-depth knowledge of both methods available
- the specific condition and needs of the patient being considered for therapy
atelectasis
collapse of the distal lung parenchyma
compression atelectasis
collapse of a part of the lung as a result of an
external force
compressing the lung.
continuous positive airway pressure
(CPAP)
a method of ventilatory support
whereby the patient breathes
spontaneously without mechanical assistance
against threshold
resistance, with pressure above atmospheric maintained at
the
airway throughout breathing.
deep breathing/directed cough
movements used to improve pulmonary
gas exchange or to maintain
respiratory function, especially after prolonged
inactivity or
general anesthesia
egophony
physical examination finding of increased resonance of voice
sounds
when auscultating the chest (e.g., due to lung consolidation).
gas absorption atelectasis
collapse of airways due to hyperoxygenation
and nitrogen washout.
incentive spirometry (IS)
purpose of IS is to coach the patient to take a sustained maximal inspiratory (SMI) effort resulting in a decrease in PAL & maintaining the potency of airways at risk of closure
the process of encouraging a bedridden patient to take
deep
breaths to avoid atelectasis; most often done with the use of an
incentive
spirometer that provides feedback to the patient when a
predetermined lung
volume is reached during inspiration
intermittent positive airway pressure
breathing (IPPB)
the application of positive-
pressure breaths to a patient for a
relatively short period (10 to 20 minutes).
lobar atelectasis
a collapsing of the airways and or alveoli limited to one
lung segment.
noninvasive ventilation (NIV)
mechanical ventilation performed without intubation
or
tracheostomy, usually using a mask.
high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC)
a variation of the standard nasal cannula
that can deliver both
FiO2 and relative humidity greater than 90% by using
heated,
humidified O2 with flows up to 50 L/min. These systems have
been
shown to successfully treat moderate hypoxemia through a
combination of
a high FiO2, distending PAP, and meeting or
exceeding the patient’s minute
ventilation.
positive expiratory pressure (PEP)
an airway clearance technique in which
the patient exhales
against a fixed-orifice flow resistor to help move
secretions
into the larger airways for expectoration via coughing
or swallowing.