How should a respiratory therapist document a patient's difficulty in breathing while lying flat in bed?

• A. Transient dyspnea
• B. Transient tachypnea
• C. Supinal dyspnea
• D. Orthopnea

Answer: (D)

The correct choice is orthopnea, which specifically refers to a patient's difficulty in breathing while lying flat. This condition is often associated with heart failure or other respiratory issues, where gravity's effect on fluid distribution in the lungs leads to increased work of breathing in the supine position. Documenting orthopnea is crucial in patient care, as it can help guide treatment and management strategies, and typically involves the patient experiencing relief of breathing discomfort when sitting or standing.

Other choices do not accurately describe this particular symptom. Transient dyspnea would refer to short-lived episodes of difficulty breathing but does not specify the position in which it occurs. Transient tachypnea describes rapid breathing and is more of a general respiratory response rather than a positional one. Supinal dyspnea is not a standard term recognized in medical practice to describe difficulty breathing in relation to body position. Thus, orthopnea is the most appropriate and precise term to use in this situation.