Pulmonary System

• Pulmonary Embolism = blood clot becomes lodged in the pulmonary artery and blocks blood flow to the lungs
• CC = SOB or pleuritic chest pain (CP worsens with deep breaths)

• CTA chest (ct of chest with IV contrast)
• VQ scan

• pneumonia = inflammation inside the lung, productive cough with fever
• CC = SOB or productive cough

CXR

the elderly -> live together in nursing homes so it can spread more easily -> community acquired pneumonia (CAP)

• pneumothorax = collapsed lung due to trauma or a spontaneous small rupture of the lung
• CC = SOB and ONE sided chest pain

CXR

• document the percentage of lung collapsed
• these patients will have a chest tube placed to re-inflate the lung

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease = long term damage to the lung’s alveoli along with inflammation and mucus production
• CC = SOB

CXR and hx of smoking

Home O2

• constriction of the airway due to inflammation and muscular contractions of the bronchioles = bronchospasm
• CC = SOB, wheezing

• nebulizers
• inhalers
• corticosteroids