Fundamentals of Nursing- Inhalations, Its types, purposes, advantages and disadvantages.

1. INHALATIONS
PRESENTED BY
JANNET REENA PURANI

2. INTRODUCTION
Inhalation is one of the most widely used remedy to soothe and open the nasal
passages and get relief from the symptoms of any respiratory problem.
Inhalations may be dry, warm, moist air which is thought to work by loosening the
mucus in the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. It may help relieve symptoms of
inflamed, swollen blood vessels in your nasal passages.
There are different methods of inhalation, medicated or non-medicated which can
be useful to resolve respiratory problems

3. DEFINITION
Inhalation is the act of drawing in air, vapour or gas into the lungs.
Drugs are inhaled either for a local effect (e.G., Steam inhalation to
relieve congestion in the respiratory tract) or for a general effect e.G.,
Inhalation of oxygen and anaesthetics.
Inhalation therapies are a group of respiratory treatments
designed to help restore or improve breathing function in patients
with a variety of diseases.

4. CLASSIFICATION

5. DRY INHALATIONS
IT IS THE INHALATION OF GASES, FUMES FROM VOLATILE DRUGS OR BURNING DRUGS.
• INHALATION OF GENERAL ANESTHETICS: Given by using mask
• OXYGEN AND CO2 INHALATION: Given by using mask, tent or catheter.
• INHALATION OF VOLATILE DRUGS: Amyl nitrate contained in an ampoule is broken and emptied
into a gauze piece or handkerchief and is held under the nose of the patient and the patient inhales the
fumes. This is used to relieve the pain in angina pectoris.
• AEROSOL SPRAY: An aerosol is a fine suspension of liquid or a powder that deliver medications
topically into the respiratory tract. Atomizers and nebulizers are used for spraying medication into the
respiratory passages.
• METERED DRUG INHALATIONS

6. MOIST INHALATIONS
BREATHING IN WARM AND MOIST AIR PRODUCED BY A VAPORIZER IS CALLED AS
MOIST INHALATION.
• STEAM INHALATION
• NEBULIZATION

7. PURPOSES OF INHALATION
• To relieve the inflammation and congestion of the mucus membranes of the respiratory tract and paranasal
sinuses, thus to produce symptomatic relief in acute cold and sinusitis.
• To soften thick, tenacious mucus and help its expulsion from the respiratory tract, thus to relieve cough in
bronchitis, and in post-operative cases etc.
• To provide heat and moisture and to prevent the dryness of the mucus membranes of the lung and upper
respiratory passages following operations such as tracheostomy.
• To aid in the absorption of oxygen and relieve dyspnea
• To relieve spastic conditions of the larynx and bronchi.
• To provide antiseptic action on the respiratory tract e.G. By using menthol, tr. Benzoin, eucalyptus etc.

8. INDICATIONS OF INHALATION THERAPY
• DYSPNEA
• COLDS AND COUGHS
• SINUSTIS
• COPD, ASTHMA, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS
• RESPIRATORY DISTRESS
• TO DELIVER ANESTHESIA
• POSTOPERATIVELY

9. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
• ADVANTAGES:
- LESS SYSTEMIC TOXICITY
- MORE RAPID ONSET OF MEDICATION
- DELIVERY TO TARGET OF ACTION
- HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS AVAILABLE IN THE LUNG
DISADVANTAGES:
- TIME AND EFFORT CONSUMING
- LIMITATION OF DELIVERY DEVICE

10. COMMONLY USED DRUGS
ANTIALLERGIC AGENTS
• BUDESONIDE (GLUCOCORTICO STEROID)
• CROMOLYN SODIUM(CROMOGLICIC ACID)
BRONCHODILATORS
• SALBUTAMOL (Β2 AGONIST)
• TERBUTALINE (Β2 AGONIST)
• ANTI-CHOLINERGIC
ANESTHETICS
• OPIOIDS
MUCOLYTIC AGENTS
• ACETEIN (ACETYLCYSTEINE)
• MISTABRON (MESNA)
ANTIMICROBIALS
TOBRAMYCIN(ANTI BACTERIAL)
PENTAMIDINE(ANTI FUNGAL)
RIBAVIRIN(ANTIVIRAL)
AMPHOTERICIN