Question 1

what do someone's eyes look like actively dying end of life copd hospice patient i don't know what to expect or look like besides glassy , glazed, teary?

Accepted Answer

: Most of us here at HealthTap are practitioners who treat patients outside of hospice care.  The best person(s) to ask your question is your colleagues who have dealt with their patients' last hours. It is a difficult observation, but is an important one so proper preparations can be offered for the patients with varying stages of living and dying.  Thank you for posting your question for us.

Question 2

how can you give breaths with a bag valve mask to a patient on a ventilator that has stopped breathing?

Accepted Answer

Breaths: The bag is attached to the endo tracheal tube or tracheostomy if those devices are in place. If endo tracheal tube positioning is uncertain, it can be removed and the mask then covers the nose and mouth.

Question 3

is it normal for oxygen saturation to sharply drop when deep breathing/hyperventilation stops? patient's spo2 can drop into 80% region

Accepted Answer

YES: Hyperventilation raises PO-2 in normla lungs and afterwards the patient will UNDERBREATHE  since the stimulation for breathing (Co2) has DROPPED due to the reapid breathing! To drop to 80% is completely normal (In my opinion)

Hope this helps!
Dr Z

Question 4

i am an asthmatic patient who tested positive for covid19. i am experiencing a hiccup like symptom which causes extreme difficulty in breathing. is this normal and if so what is a possible treatment for this?

Accepted Answer

COVID 19: There are cases reported in which persistent hiccups were the presenting complaint for COVID 19 infections. Because you are having extreme difficulty breathing - do recommend you be evaluated at an emergency room.

Question 5

could breathing 100% o2 be bad for copd patients?

Accepted Answer

Depends on patient: Oxygen in tanks is "100% oxygen", and should be considered a medication. The amount of "100% oxygen" used varies from patient to patient. The oxygen from the tank mixes with air from the environment, so that a patient breathes in somewhat enriched air. Doctors do worry that if a COPD patient gets too much oxygen, he will take fewer breaths per minute, and make his carbon dioxide level go too high.

Question 6

is it helpful to perform cpr on a patient with an mi that is still breathing?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: A patient who is still breathing implies a functional heart rhythm, which is the primary reason to do mechanical cpr.  So if one is still breathing, then supportive care to ensure a good, open airway, and calling for help asap, should be the priorities.  If the patient stops breathing and no pulse is detected, and no AED device is readily available, then CPR needs to be instituted.

Question 7

why when doctors are doing any painful procedure, they keep telling the patient over and over again to just keep breathing.?!

Accepted Answer

I don't think: they do that unless give a medication that might depress respiration

Question 8

is it necessary to do plural tapping if patient is not breathing?

Accepted Answer

Thoracentesis: Is there an indication for thoracentesis , such as symptomatic tx of empyeman or pleural effusions. Is it needed for diagnosis?

Question 9

if a patient with a hemothorax stops breathing, what should you do?

Accepted Answer

Transport trauma Ctr: Ambubag pt. until help arrives
At the trauma Ctr. he'll be intubated and Chest Tube placed low and lateral on the side of the hemothorax.
Don't try this at home kids

Question 10

what does it mean if a patient can't start breathing again on their own after being under general anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Many things: It could be too much pain medicine, other anesthetics, inadequate paralytic reversal, other physiolog abnormality (electrolytes off, hypothermia), or problem with the central nervous system.  A review of medications given, clinical evaluation, and possible imaging should reveal the cause.

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Doctor answers about:

What are normal respirations for end of life patients

A member asked:

What do someone's eyes look like actively dying end of life copd hospice patient i don't know what to expect or look like besides glassy , glazed, teary?

A member asked:

How can you give breaths with a bag valve mask to a patient on a ventilator that has stopped breathing?

A member asked:

Is it normal for oxygen saturation to sharply drop when deep breathing/hyperventilation stops? patient's spo2 can drop into 80% region

A member asked:

I am an asthmatic patient who tested positive for covid19. i am experiencing a hiccup like symptom which causes extreme difficulty in breathing. is this normal and if so what is a possible treatment for this?

A member asked:

Could breathing 100% o2 be bad for copd patients?

A member asked:

Is it helpful to perform cpr on a patient with an mi that is still breathing?

A member asked:

Why when doctors are doing any painful procedure, they keep telling the patient over and over again to just keep breathing.?!

A member asked:

Is it necessary to do plural tapping if patient is not breathing?

A member asked:

If a patient with a hemothorax stops breathing, what should you do?

A member asked:

What does it mean if a patient can't start breathing again on their own after being under general anesthesia?

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