4 Chapter 4: Respiratory System

Abbreviation

Meaning

Abbreviation

Meaning

ABG

Arterial blood gas

MDRTB

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

A&P

Auscultation and percussion

NMT

Nebulized mist treatment

AFB

Acid-fast bacilli

O₂

Oxygen

AP

Anterior posterior (used with x-ray views)

OSA

Obstructive sleep apnea

ARDS

Acute respiratory distress syndrome

PA

Posterior anterior (used with x-ray views)

ARF

Acute respiratory failure

PAP

Positive airway pressure

BiPAP

Bilevel positive airway pressure

PE

Pulmonary embolism

CF

Cystic fibrosis

PFT

Pulmonary function test

CO₂

Carbon dioxide

pH

Potential of hydrogen(degree of acidity or alkalinity

COLD

Chronic obstructive lung disease

PND

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

PPD

Purified protein derivative

CPAP

Continuous positive airway pressure

R

respiration

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

RA

Room air

CPT

Chest physiotherapy

RAD

Reactive airway disease

CT

Computed tomography

RDS

Respiratory distress syndrome

CTA

Clear to auscultation

RML

Right middle lobe (of lung)

CTPA

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography

RUL

Right upper lobe (of lung)

CWP

Coal worker’s pneumoconiosis

SARS

Severe acute respiratory syndrome

CXR

Chest x-ray

SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome

DOE

Dyspnea on exertion

SOB

Shortness of breath

DNR

Do not resuscitate

SOBOE

Shortness of breath on exertion

ENT

Ears, nose, throat

stat

Immediately

HHN

Handheld nebulizer

T&A

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

IRDS

Infant respiratory distress syndrome

TB

Tuberculosis

IPPB

Intermittent positive pressure breathing

TLC

Total lung capacity

IS

Incentive spirometry

URI

Upper respiratory infection

LLL

Left lower lobe (of lung)

VC

Vital capacity

LUL

Left upper lobe (of lung)

V_T

Tidal volume

MDI

Metered dose inhaler

Test/procedure

Explanation

Arterial blood gases (ABG)

Measurement of the O₂ and CO₂ levels and the pH balance in arterial blood (blood drawn from an artery rather than a vein)

Bronchoscopy

Visual examination of the bronchi using an endoscope inserted through the mouth and trachea

Chest physiotherapy

Manually percussing the chest wall to help clear the lungs of mucus

Chest x-ray (CXR)

Radiographic image of the lungs

Computed tomography (CT)

Computerized imaging procedure that creates detailed images of the internal organs, bones, soft tissues, and blood vessels

Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA)

Combines computed tomography scanning and angiography to produce detailed images of the pulmonary arteries

Mantoux test

Tuberculosis screening test in which an injection of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) is placed just below the surface of the skin; used to help identify whether a patient has been exposed to tuberculosis.

Metered dose inhaler (MDI)

Handheld device filled with medicine that delivers a certain amount of medicine through your mouth into your lungs and airways

Nebulizer

Device that produces a fine spray or mist to deliver medication to the lungs and airways

Oximetry

Noninvasive method of monitoring the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen; often attached to a finger but may also be attached to other parts of the body such as nose, foot, ears.

Pleurodesis

Infusion of a sterile, irritating substance into the pleural space, causing the pleural linings to fuse so fluid or air can no longer build up between the two layers of pleura.

Postural drainage

The use of gravity to drain mucus from the lungs by placing patients in various positions – often performed with chest physiotherapy

Pulmonary angiography

Radiographic examination of the blood vessels that supply the lungs after injecting a contrast dye; used to detect pulmonary emboli (blood clots)

Pulmonary function test (PFT)

Various tests that measures how well your lungs are working; may include tests such as arterial blood gases, spirometry, oximetry, and lung volume tests.

Sputum analysis

Laboratory examination of mucus or fluid coughed up from the lungs

Sweat test

Measurement of the amount of salt (sodium chloride) in sweat

Thoracentesis

Surgical puncture of the chest wall to remove fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall

Vital capacity test

Measurement of the volume of air that can be exhaled after maximum inspiration

Disease/condition

Description

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

Rapid onset respiratory failure resulting from fluid build-up in the lungs. Most commonly occurs in people who are already critically ill or those with significant injuries (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ards/symptoms-causes/syc-20355576)

Asbestosis

Chronic lung disease caused from the inhalation of asbestos fibers, causing scarring of the lung tissues. Prolonged exposure may lead to the development of lung cancer.

Asphyxia

Insufficient intake of oxygen due to choking, electric shock, exposure to toxic gas, or other causes. Potentially life-threatening.

Asthma

Airway disorder in which the airways narrow, making breathing difficult, causing wheezing and shortness of breath. May also produce extra mucus.

Atelectasis

Inability of the alveoli to inflate properly, impairing the ability to deliver oxygen to the body (also known as a collapsed lung). Often develops after surgery.

Bronchitis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the bronchial airways.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A group of diseases, such as emphysema causing blockage of the airways and severe shortness of breath. Common symptoms include frequent coughing or wheezing, shortness of breath, excess phlegm or sputum, and difficulty taking a deep breath (https://www.cdc.gov/copd/features/copd-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Ffeatures%2Fcopd-awareness-month%2Findex.html).

Image by:  http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/copd/campaign-materials/html/copd-patient.htm

Coryza

Acute inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal passages. Also known as the common cold or rhinitis.

Crackles

Cracking or bubbling sound heard during inspiration. One of several abnormal lung sounds heard with a stethoscope.

Croup

Acute respiratory condition occurring primarily in young children and infants, characterized by a barking cough.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)

Genetic disease primarily affecting the lungs and digestive system. It causes excessive production of mucus. (https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/Diagnosed-With-Cystic-Fibrosis/)

Deviated nasal septum

Displacement of the cartilage which divides the nostrils and can cause difficulty breathing, sinus infections, and nosebleeds.

Emphysema

One of the diseases in the COPD group caused by damaged or ruptured alveoli, resulting in shortness of breath.

Image by: “Emphysema, centrilobular“ by Pulmonary Pathology is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nose (aka nosebleed)

Hemoptysis

Spitting up of blood from the lungs or respiratory tract

Hemothorax

Collection of blood in the pleural cavity.

Influenza

Contagious, acute viral respiratory illness, causing fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. Also called the flu.

Laryngitis

Inflammation of the larynx, causing hoarseness or loss of the voice.

Lung cancer

Several types of cancer that starts in the lungs, typically in the cells lining the bronchi, bronchioles, or alveoli. There are two basic types: 1) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) such as adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma; and 2) small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

Image by: https://www.myupchar.com/en/disease/lung-cancer

Orthopnea

Difficulty breathing in a horizontal position that improves when sitting up.

Pertussis

Acute infectious disease, characterized by a cough that makes a “whoop” sound. Also called whooping cough.

Pharyngitis

Inflammation of the pharynx. Also called sore throat.

Pleural effusion

Collection of fluid in the pleural cavity.

Image by: Cancer Research UK / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)

Pleurisy

Inflammation of the pleural membrane causing sharp pain upon inspiration

Pneumonia

Lung infection caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungi. Bacterial and viral pneumonia are contagious.

Pneumothorax

Complete or partial collapse of a lung that occurs when air leaks into the pleural cavity and pushes on the lung, causing it to collapse.

Image by: “Pneumothorax 2” by Servier Medical Art is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Pulmonary edema

Accumulation of fluid in lung tissues and alveoli, often caused by heart failure.

Pulmonary embolism

Blockage of an artery in the lungs caused by blood clots or other debris. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough that produces blood or blood streaks.

Image by: “Pulmonary embolism” by Thrombosis Adviser is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Ronchi

Coarse, gurgling sound when breathing. One of several abnormal lung sounds heard with a stethoscope.

Sleep apnea

Potentially serious disorder causing patients to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep.

Stridor

High-pitched sound caused by a spasm, swelling of the larynx, or an upper airway obstruction. Audible without a stethoscope. May indicate a life-threatening condition.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Unexpected, unexplained death of an infant (under one year of age). Also called crib death.

Tuberculosis

Potentially life-threatening, contagious bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs but may spread to other organs. Spread through respiratory droplets.

Image: ps://www.myupchar.com/ – https://www.myupchar.com/en/disease/tuberculosis-tb

Upper respiratory infection (URI)

Contagious infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, pharynx, larynx, and bronchi) usually caused by a virus.

Wheeze

Whistling sound caused by partial airway obstruction. One of several abnormal lung sounds. May be heard with or without a stethoscope.