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Acute Respiratory Distress

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Acute respiratory distress is a true respiratory emergency and has many possible causes.
They include:
  • Airway obstruction e.g. by a foreign body such as a ball.
  • Trauma, e.g. road traffic accident.
  • Infections of the lungs.
  • Laryngeal paralysis.
  • Poisoning.
  • Neoplasia.
  • Overdose of anaesthetic.
  • Pneumonia.

Signs and Symptoms
  • Extreme difficulty breathing
  • Coughing
  • Crackling noise during breathing
  • Fever
  • Nasal discharge
  • Blue-gray colored gums (cyanosis)

Treatment
  1. A patent airway must be maintained in order that air can pass through the trachea to the lungs
  2. The use of suction will remove secretions such as haemorrhage or excess saliva
  3. Intubation will maintain an open and clear airway in the unconscious patient
  4. Placement of a tracheotomy tube is a semi-permanent solution to maintain a patent airway
  5. Oxygen therapy will ensure that air reaching the alveoli is rich in oxygen and thus aid oxygen exchange. Oxygen may be administered in several ways – select the method that is readily available and is most easily tolerated by the patient.
 
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