Burns Flashcards
Burns result from?
The disruption of proteins in the cell membrane
A _____ burn causes damage by increasing the rate at which the molecules within an object move and collide with each other.
Thermal
To ____ is to alter the usual substance of something.
Denature
What three components does the amount of heat energy in thermal burns depend on?
Temperature
Concentration of heat enrage it possesses
Length of contact time with patients skin
In general, what tends to have a high heat content?
Liquids
What is the name of the theory which helps to explain the physical effects of high heat and a number of clinical effects?
Jacksons theory of thermal wounds
What is the zone of coagulation in jacksons theory of thermal wounds?
Most damaged area nearest heat source
What happens in the zone of coagulation?
Cell membranes are destroyed, blood coagulates, structural proteins denature
Where is the zone of stasis?
Adjacent to most damaged region
What occurs in the zone of stasis?
Inflammation
Blood flow decreases
Where is the zone of hyperemia?
Area farthest from heat source
What occurs in the zone of hyperemia?
Limited inflammation
Changes in blood flow
If the zone of coagulation penetrates the dermis, the resulting injury is termed?
Full-thickness or third-degree
Which zone in jacksons theory of thermal burns accounts for erythema associated with some burns?
Zone of hyperemia
What occurs in the zone of stasis stage of a burn?
Vasoconstriction and clotting take place to isolate damage
How does a patient experiencing the emergent stage of a burn present?
Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Mild hypertension
Mild anxiety
Burn injuries are the ______ leading cause of death in children under 12 years of age and the _____ overall cause of trauma death.
Second
Fourth
What is the second zone of a burn in Jacksons thermal wound theory?
Fluid shift phase
What occurs in the fluid shift stage?
A massive shift of fluid from the intravascular to the extravascular space
Which phase of the burn process can last up to 24 hours and peaks in 6-8 hours?
Fluid shift phase
The _____ phase occurs with thermal burns larger than 15-20% of body.
Fluid shift
Which phase follows the fluid shift phase?
Hypermetabolic
Which phase of the burn process may last for many days or weeks, depending on the burn severity?
Hypermetabolic
Which phase in the burn process is characterized by a large increase in the body’s demands for nutrients?
Hypermetabolic
In which phase of the burn process is scar tissue laid down and remodeled?
Resolution
_____ is the difference of electric potential between two points with different concentrations of electrons.
Voltage
_____ is the rate of flow of an electric charge.
Current
______ is the basic unit for measuring strength of an electric current.
Ampere
What is the property of a conductor that opposes the passage of an electric current?
Resistance
What is the basic unit for measuring the strength of electrical resistance?
Ohm
The relationship between current, resistance, and voltage is known as?
Ohms law
Heat is proportional to the _____ of the current flow.
Square
The highest heat occurs at the points of greatest resistance, often at ____.
The skin
Dry, calluses skin can have _________ resistance values.
Enormous
Mucous membranes have _____ resistance and allow even small currents to pass.
Low
How does high voltage or current impact a burn?
Burn increases
The smaller the area of contact, the ______the concentration of current flow and ______ injury.
Greater
Greater
What type of burns denature the biochemical makeup of cell membranes and destroy the cells?
Chemical
What is the most common causes of chemical burns?
Strong acids or bases
What occurs in coagulation necrosis?
An acid, while destroying tissue, forms an insoluble layer that limits further damage.
In chemical burns, ______ do not form a coagulum.
Alkalis
What is the name for the process in which an alkali dissolves and liquefies tissue?
Liquefaction necrosis
_____ is a general term applied to the transmission of electromagnetic or particle energy.
Radiation
What are protons?
They are positively charged particles that form the nucleus of hydrogen and that are present in the nuclei of all elements.
The atomic number indicates?
Number of protons
What are neurons?
Subatomic particles that are approximately equal in mass to a proton but lack an electrical charge
A _____ has an average life of less than _____ minutes.
Neuron
17
____ are minute particles with negative electrical charges that revolve around the nucleus of an atom.
Electrons
When emitted from radioactive substances, electrons are called ______.
Beta particles
_____ is the process by which radiation causes damage.
Ionization
Which human cells are most sensitive to radiation injury?
Erythrocytes Leukocytes Platelet production Cells lining intestinal tract Reproductive cells
Which type of radiation is very weak and can be stopped by paper, clothing, or the epidermis?
Alpha
What type of radiation is more powerful than alpha and can travel 6-10 feet through air, through clothing, and first few millimeters of skin?
Beta
_____ radiation is the most powerful ionizing radiation. It has great penetrating power and protection requires thick concrete or lead shielding.
Gamma
_______ radiation has great penetrating power but is uncommon outside of nuclear reactors and bombs.
Neutron
What happens in “clean” radiation accidents?
Patient is exposed to radiation but not contaminated by radioactive particles, liquids, gases, or smoke.
What occurs in “dirty” radiation accidents?
Patient is contaminated by radioactive particles, liquids, gases, or smoke.
What is the most commonly used device to detect ionizing radiation?
Geiger counter
Cumulative radiation exposure is measured by a device called a _____.
Dosimeter
What is the basic unit of absorbed radiation dose?
Rad - radiation absorbed dose
A _____ is a unit of absorbed radiation dose equal to 100 rads.
Gray
The first signs of serious radiation exposure are?
Slight nausea and fatigue occurring 4-24 hours after exposure
What symptoms are seen in prolonged radiation exposure?
Anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, and malaise
What are the factors affecting g exposure to radiation?
Time
Distance
Shielding
Doubling the distance away from a radiation source reduces the exposure by a factor of _____.
4
Carbon monoxide bonds to hemoglobin ______ times faster than oxygen.
200
Superheated steam is created under great pressure and can have a temperature well above _____.
212°
The ____ burn, also termed first degree burn, involves only the ____.
Superficial
Epidermis
A ________ burn, also termed a second-degree burn, produces ____.
Partial-thickness
Blisters
A ________ burn, or third degree burn, penetrates both the epidermis and dermis and extends into the subcutaneous layers or even deeper, into the muscles, bones, and enteral organs.
Full-thickness