chapter 7 Flashcards
What is an essential part of every patient evaluation, regardless of presenting complaint?
a pain assessment
nocieption?
detection by the nervous system of the potential for or the actual occurrence of tissue injury
physiologic pain?
the protective sensation of pain that occurs when there is no or minimal tissue injury (pain you would feel that would warn you that you touched something sharp)
pathologic pa[n?
pain that occurs after tissue injury
Pathologic pain based on duration can be classified in two ways, what are they?
acute (hours) or chronic (days to years)
Pathologic pain is often classified based on the?
- mechanism
- origin
- severity of pain
The mechanism of pain can be?
- inflammation - (ie. after trauma or surgery)
- nerve injury (neuropathic)
- cancer
- idiopathic (no identifiable cause)
Pain can originate from?
organs - visceral pain (pleuritis or colic)
musculoskeletal system - somatic pain
Somatic pain can be divided into what?
superficial (skin)
deep (joint, muscles, bones)
transmitted by both A delta and C fibers
Some diseases or surgeries may result in more than one of these types of pain, what are they?
abdominal surgery has components of somatic pain (skin and abdominal wall incisions) and visceral pain (organ manipulation and surgery)
Pain severity is often classified as?
none, mild, moderate, or severe
Pain is defined as?
an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage
Analgesia?
- the absence of the awareness of pain, achieved through the use of drugs or other modes of therapy
- the relief of pain without loss of consciousness
What are the principles of analgesia - ethical and medical reasons that vets and techs have to follow?
- must ensure analgesia is provided for every patient requiring it
- must recognize procedures likely to be painful
- must use techniques to minimize pain
- must monitor behavior and physiologic variables as potential indicators or pain
- technicians must bring animals requiring analgesia to the veterinarian’s attention
Untreated pain can negatively affect a patient’s?
- behavior
- physiology
- metabolis
- immune system
Chemicals released by inflammation or tissue damage?
prostaglandins, leukotrienes, bradykinin, proteolytic enzymes, histamine, potassium ions, serotonin
Nociception, or the pain pathway consists of four main steps, what are they?
- Transduction - transformation of noxious thermal, chemical, or mechanical stimuli into electrical signals called action potentials
- transmission - sensory impulses are conducted to the spinal cord
- modulation - in the spinal cord where fibers terminate, the impulses can be altered by other neurons, which either amplify or suppress them.
- perception - impulses are transmitted to the brain, where they are processed and recognized
What are action potentials?
electrical signals
Mutimodal therapy?
using several analgesic drugs, each with a different mechanism of action - results in lower doses, which increases safety
Sensory neurons located in the ?
peripheral tissue
Neurons in the spinal cord…?
convey and impulse to the brain
Neurons in the brain…?
convey the conscious sensation of pain
What are the 2 types of sensory neurons that transmit pain signals from peripheral tissues, spinal cord, and the brain?
- A delta fibers
2. C fibers
What do A delta fibers do?
- transmit sharp discrete pain signals
- pain is located to an exact spot
- large myelinated neurons conduct signals rapidly
What do C fibers do?
- transmit dull, aching or throbbing pain
- sensations cannot be exactly localized
- smaller, nonmyelinated neruons
- visceral pain - cramping, burning, gnawing
What is the difference between nociception and pain?
consciousness This means that patients under a general anesthetic do not perceive pain. However, nocieption occurs even when an animal is in a state of unconciousness.