Chapter 1: Recognition and Assessment of the Seriously Ill Patient

Question 1

Why is it important to identify physiologic deterioration early in ICU patients

Answer 1

Several studies have demonstrated that physiologic deterioration precedes many cardiopulmonary arrests by hours (page 3)

Question 2

Components for identifying patients at risk for physiologic deterioration (3)

Answer 2

Assessment of 
1. Background health
2.current disease process
3.Current physiologic condition
(page 3)

Question 3

Risk for critical illness is increased in patients with what characteristics (9)

Answer 3

1. Emergency admit
2. Advaced age
3. sever coexisting chronic illness
4. severe physiologic abnormalities
5. need for or recent history of emergent procedure
6. sever hemorrhage or need for blood transfusion
7. deterioration or lack of improvement
   8.Immunodeficiency
8. Combo of these factors
   (page 4)

Question 4

What is the most important indicator of critical illness

Answer 4

Tachypnea (p 6)

Question 5

Agitation and Confusion may result from ___

Answer 5

hypoxemia (p 6)

Question 6

depressed level of consciousness may result from ___

Answer 6

hypercapnia (p 6)

Question 7

A decrease in ____ may be a late sign of cardiovascular disturbances signaling a failure of compensatory measures

Answer 7

Blood Pressure (p 7)

Question 8

In addition to ABC’s primary survey ery should assess for (5)

Answer 8

pallor
cyanosis
diaphoresis
jaundice
erythema/flushing 
(page 8)

Question 9

Two important facts for impending critical illness

Answer 9

tachypnea and metabolic acidosis

p 10