Signs of Respiratory Distress (Breathless pts)

Cards (1)

  • Signs of Respiratory Distress:
    • accessory muscles use e.g. sternocleidomastoid, scalenes - increase thoracic capacity vertically
    • increased respiratory rate
    • fixed upper limb - pectoralis minor used as an inspiratory muscle, moving rib
    • cant talk in full sentences
    • pursed lip breathing - generates positive pressure in airways to splint them open, used by patients with obstructive disease
    • increased I:E ratio from 1:2 to 1:4 due to airway narrowing
    • active expiration - abdominal muscles working when breathing out
    • recession of muscles - soft tissue sucked in - intercostal muscles are fatigued