6-Emergency Procedures Flashcards
triage
french meaning “to sort”
Always obtain during phone triage:
- cl name, phone number
- pets age, breed, sex (spayed/neutered)
- brief description of problem
examples of emergencies
- Severe hemorrhage
- Labored breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Seizures
- Inability to urinate- straining
- Profuse diarrhea/ vomiting
- Poisoning- chemical /animal
- Penetrating wounds to eye, chest, abdomen
respiratory system questions
- Is animal breathing /having difficulty breathing?
- Owner describe how animal is breathing..rapid, short,shallow breaths?
- How many breaths per minute is animal taking?
- Is breathing noisy or quiet and effortless?
- Is animal restless/unwilling to lie down?
- Is animal standing with next extended, with front legs held away from chest?
oxygen therapy
Room air contains 21% oxygen, delivery of oxygen in a concentration greater than 20%
oxygen delivery -mask
should not be used long term, provides high oxygen flow/excessive accumulation of carbon dioxide
oxygen delivery - oxygen cage
best for small pts, allows for control of oxygen, humidity/ambient temp. Pts should be monitored for hyperthermia
oxygen delivery- nasal catheter
red rubber catheter placed in pts nostrils, sutured to the animal’s head/attached to humidified oxygen source
cardiovascular system questions
- Is heart beating?
- Is rhythm of heart regular?
- Have owner count number of beats per minute
- What is capillary fill time?
- What is color of gums?
- Is pets feet /ears warm or cold?
shock
- The failure of cardiovascular system to supply oxygen /other nutrients to the body cells
- Caused by variety of disease /conditions (trauma, blood loss, heart disease, severe infection)
- Causes cell death /if not quickly identified, treated /reversed total body death
early stage shock
ncreased heart rate, bounding pulses, bright pink mucus membranes / shortened CRT
late stage/ progressive shock
- rapid heart rate , weak pulses, low body temp. W cold extremities, will become mentally depressed /.unaware of surroundings
- Treatment includes aggressive fluid therapy unless contraindicated and or blood products
trauma
physical/emotional injury
wound care
some pts require pain med/sedation prior to wound treatment
- begins w clipping/cleaning
- ## clip around using 40blade
urogenital system questions
- Is pet urinating?
- Inability to urinate quickly result accumulation of waste products in blood lead to death
- Assist owner in determining if animal actually producing urine /just straining to urinate
fracture
confirmed by radiographed, localized swelling, pain, abnormal body positioning may be initial indications
-May be closed or open fracture
open fracture-compund fracture
- bone is protruding thru skin causing infection risk
- immobilize to reduce swelling/pain
- cold therapy withing 48-72 hrs
abrasion
superficial wound
avulsion
piece of tissue that has torn away from body
incision
wound with smooth regular edges produced by sharp cutting object
laceration
wound w rough irregular edges
puncture
wound w high risk of infection caused by sharp pointed object that penetrates skin ile,
abscess -closed
needed to be opened to drain purulent materials contains. After that treated as open abscess.
abscess- open
needs to be drained/flushed. Any necrotic tissue is removed/a penrose drain placed during closure. Drain remains in place until wound drainage resolves/the hole from the drain is left to heal by second intention.
bandaging - primary layer
wound dressing, various types/ dr will specify which one. Layer against the skin.
bandaging - secondary lyer
hold primary layer in place. Consist of non-adherent material extending beyond primary layer. Cotton wrap used if padding or immobilization required then is wrapped with roll gauze.
bandaging - tertiary
final layer actually holds bandage on animal. Edges adhere to air of pt to keep bandage from moving. Usually consists of vet wrap, elasticon or white tape.
emergency
Arrival of pts suffering from acute injuries, hemorrhage, respiratory distress, shock /poisoning necessitates life- saving measures
be LARK
Listen actively
antcipate needs
respond quickly
know what you are doing
read drug labels 3 times
- when picked up
- when you fill syringe
- when you put the drug down
ambu bag
hand held device to provide breathing assistance for pt not breathing on own/ breathing poorly. usually attached to oxygen/anesthetic machine (no anesthetic will be used)
ABC
airway
breathing
circulaton (gums-pink/pale?)
bloat - GD/GDV
gatsric dilation and gastric dilatation volvulus
life threatening
symptoms- bloatd stomach,
( look/ feel like balloon in advanced stages), restlessness, unproductive retching, panting, salivation, whining.
stomach becomes distended w gases, liquid and food. then twists/ rotates around distal esophagus, preventing air/ fluid from leaving stomach. Pressure from distended stomach prevents blood from flowing back to heart, / stomach wall begins to die.
renal failure
when kidney unable to proplerly filter waste products from blood
Symptoms- increase thirst/urination -pu/pd-,decreased appetite, vomiting,dep
bloked cat/ FLutd-o
urethra can be partially/ fully blocked by mucus, blood, stones.
seizures
Caused by transient abnormal brain activity and composed of three parts.
seizures- aura
occurs before seizure/ animal may sense that something is about to happen and become restless and/or nervous.
seizures- ictus
actual seizure time when animal unresponsive, collapse and have violent thrashing of its body.
seizures- post ictus
the recovery period following ictus when the per may be blind and stagger about.
gastrointestinal
involves vomiting and diarrhea.
frequency and volume of V/D will determine the severity of the problem.
-Causes can be bacteria, viral, dietary, toxins, drugs, neurological diseases and/or metabolic diseases.
parvovirus
infectious virus that be fatal. Vomiting, bloody diarrhea/low white blood cell count lead severe dehydration, shock/secondary infections.
euthanasia
meaning good or eight death
