Mr. Alvarez bumped a bee’s nest while making repairs on his roof. Not surprisingly, he was promptly stung several times. Because he knew he was allergic to bee stings, he rushed to the hospital. While waiting, he went into a state of shock and had extreme difficulty breathing. Examination showed his larynx to be edematous, and a tracheostomy was performed. Why is edema of the larynx likely to obstruct the airway? What is a tracheostomy, and what purpose does it serve?

Nine-year-old Tyler stumbled into the drugstore gasping for breath. Blood was oozing from a small hole in his chest wall. When the paramedics arrived they said that Tyler had been shot and suffered a pneumothorax and atelectasis. Just what do both of these terms mean, and how do you explain his respiratory distress? How will it be treated?

Nineteen-year-old Tyler stumbled into the drugstore gasping for breath. Blood was oozing from a small hole in his chest wall. When the paramedics arrived they said that. Tyler had been shot and suffered a pneumothorax and atelectasis. What do both of these terms mean, and how do you explain his respiratory distress? How will it be treated?