Ch. 36 Geriatric Emergencies Flashcards
Abdominal aortic aneurism (AAA)
A rapidly fatal condition in which the walls of the aorta in the abdomen weaken and blood leaks into the layers of the vessel, causing it to bulge.
Advance directive
Written documentation that specifics medical treatment for a competent patient should the patient become unable to make decisions; also called a living will or health care directive.
Aneurism
A swelling or enlargment of the wall of a blood vessel that results from the weakening of the fessel wall.
Arteriosclerosis
A disease that causes the arteries to thicken, harden, and calicify.
Ascites
An abnormal accumulation of excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
Atherosclerosis
A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of the blood vessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to a partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
Cataracts
Clouding of the lense of the eye or its surrounding transparent membranes.
Decubitous ulcers
Sores caused by the pressure of skin against a surface for long periods; can range from a discoloration of the skin to a deep wound that may invade into bone or organs; also known as bedsores.
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
The formation of a blood clot within the larger veins of an extremity, typically following a period of prolonged immobilization.
Delerium
A temporary change in mental status characterized by disorganized thoughts, inattention, memory loss, disorientation, striking changes in personality and affect, hallucinations, delusions, or a decreased level of consciousness.
Demetia
The slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortnened attention span, and loss of cognitive function; this condition is generally chronic and irriversible.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Elder abuse
Any action on the part of an older person’s family, caregiver, or other associated person that takes advantage of the older person’s person, property, or emotional state.
Geriatrics
The assessment and treatment of disease in someone who is age 65 years or older.
Hemoptysis
The coughing up of blood.
Jugular vein distension
A visual bulging of the jugular veins in the neck that can be caused by fluid overload, pressure in the chest, cardiac tampenade, or tension pneumothorax.
Kyphosis
A forward curling of the back caused by an abnormal increase in the curvarature of the spine.
Melena
Black, foul-smelling, tarry stool containing digested blood.
Methicillin-resistant Stapylococcus aureus (MRSA)
A bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and is often resistant to commonly used antibiotics; can be found on the skin, and in surgical wounds, the bloodstream, lungs and urinary tract.
Neuropathy
A group of conditions in which the nerves leaving the spinal cord are damaged resulting in distortion of signals to or from the brain.
Osteoporosis
A generalized bone disease, commonly associated with postmenopausal women, in which there is a reduction in the amount of bone mass leading to fractures after minimal trauma in either sex.
Peptic ulcer disease
An abrasion of the stomach or small intestine.
Pneumonia
An infectious disease of the lung that damages lung tissue.
Polypharmacy
The use of multiple medications on a regular basis.
Presycusis
An age-related condition of the ear that produces progressive bilateral hearing loss that is most noted at higher frequencies.
Pulmonary embolism
A blood clot that breaks off of a large vein that travels to the blood vessels of the lung, causing obstruction of blood flow.
Respiratory synsytial virus (RSV)
A virus that causees an infection of the lungs and breathing passages; can lead to other serious illnesses that affect the lungs of heart, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia; it is highly contageous and spread through droplets.
Syncope
A fainting spell or transient loss of consciousness.
Urinary tract infection
An infection, usually of the lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder), that occurs when normal flora bacteria enter the urethra and grow.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)
A bacterium that is normally present in the human intestines and in the female reproductive tract, but that can cause infection and which is resistant to the antibiotic vancomycin.
