Med Surg

• Airway obstruction: tongue falling back, retained thick secretions, laryngospasm, laryngeal edema
• Hypoxemia: atelectasis, pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, aspiration, bronchospasm
• Hypoventilation: depression of central respiratory drive, poor respiratory muscle tone, mechanical restriction, pain

Use of accessory muscles, snoring respirations, decreased air movement

Patient stimulation, chin lift, jaw thrust, artificial airway

noisy respirations, coarse crackles

Suctioning, IV hydration, chest physical therapy, deep breathing and coughing

Inspiratory stridor, sternal retraction, acute respiratory distress

O2, corticosteroids, IV muscle relaxant, lidocaine, positive pressure ventilation

Inspiratory stridor, sternal retraction, acute respiratory distress

O2, antihistamines, corticosteroids, sedatives, possible intubation

↓ breath sounds, ↓ O2 sat 


Humidified O2, deep breathing, IS, early mobilization

↓ O2 sat, crackles, infiltrates on chest x-ray

O2 therapy, diuretics, fluid restriction

Acute tachypnea, dyspnea, tachycardia, hypotension, ↓ O2 sat, bronchospasm

O2 therapy, cardiopulmonary support, anticoagulant therapy

Unexplained tachypnea, bronchospasm, ↓ O2 sat, atelectasis, interstitial edema, alveolar hemorrhage, respiratory failure

O2 therapy, cardiac support, antibiotics

wheezing, dyspnea, tachypnea, ↓ O2 sat

O2 therapy, bronchodilators