Learn about the mediastinum, including its anatomy, compartments, imaging findings, mediastinal shift, and common abnormalities.
John Landry, BS, RRT
John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier, live healthier, and improve their overall quality of life.
Pneumomediastinum: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Learn about pneumomediastinum, including its causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and connection to pulmonary air-leak syndromes.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: An Overview
Learn how positron emission tomography (PET) works, its role in lung cancer, pulmonary nodules, staging, and key limitations.
Anticoagulation: Medications, Monitoring, and Complications
Learn about anticoagulation, including common medications, clinical uses, monitoring, complications, bleeding risks, and reversal.
Heparin: Clinical Uses, Mechanism, and Adverse Effects
Learn about heparin, including its uses, mechanism of action, monitoring, adverse effects, complications, and clinical applications.
Pleuritic Chest Pain: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Learn about pleuritic chest pain, including common causes, symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and when urgent evaluation may be needed.
Pulmonary Angiography: Uses, Procedure, and Findings
Learn how pulmonary angiography evaluates the pulmonary arteries, detects pulmonary embolism, and compares with CTA and V/Q scanning.
Thoracic Imaging: Key Findings in Respiratory Care
Learn the basics of thoracic imaging, including chest x-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound, common findings, and device placement.
Respiratory Care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Learn about respiratory care in the intensive care unit (ICU), including mechanical ventilation, patient monitoring, and critical care.
Stoma Care: Airway Management and Emergency Considerations
Learn about stoma care, airway management, tracheostomy and laryngectomy considerations, complications, and emergency ventilation.
Cardiac Arrest: Emergency Management and Treatment
Learn about cardiac arrest, including causes, rhythms, CPR, defibrillation, airway management, treatment, and post-arrest care.
CO-Oximetry: Principles, Uses, and Clinical Applications
Learn how CO-oximetry measures hemoglobin species, detects dyshemoglobins, and helps assess carbon monoxide poisoning and methemoglobinemia.
When Should a Respiratory Therapist Notify the Physician?
Learn when respiratory therapists should notify the physician, including emergencies, adverse reactions, unsafe orders, and patient refusal.
Lower Respiratory Tract: Anatomy, Structure, and Function
Learn the anatomy and function of the lower respiratory tract, including the trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and gas exchange.
Upper Respiratory Tract: Anatomy, Structure, and Function
Learn the anatomy and function of the upper respiratory tract, including the nose, pharynx, larynx, airway protection, and common disorders.
Respiratory Tract: Anatomy, Function, and Clinical Care
Learn the anatomy and function of the respiratory tract, including the upper and lower airways, alveoli, gas exchange, and airway defense.
Elevate Head-of-Bed to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
Learn how elevating the head of the bed 30 to 45 degrees helps reduce aspiration risk and prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Venturi Mask: Clinical Uses and Oxygen Delivery
Learn how a Venturi mask delivers precise oxygen using air entrainment, total flow, FiOâ‚‚, air-to-oxygen ratios, and jet design.
Air-Entrainment Mask: Clinical Uses for Oxygen Delivery
Learn how an air-entrainment mask delivers precise oxygen concentrations, controls FiOâ‚‚, and supports clinical oxygen therapy.
Obesity and Respiratory Function: A Clinical Overview
Learn how obesity affects lung function, breathing mechanics, sleep apnea, hypoventilation, gas exchange, respiratory care, and treatment.