Critical Care Flashcards
Level 0 care
Normal ward
Level 1 care
- Enhanced care
- 3:1 ratio of patients to nurses
- Monitored
Level 2 care
- High dependency (HDU)
- 2:1 ratio of patients to nurses
- Single organ failure (not ventilated)
Level 3 care
- Intensive care (ICU)
- Recovery units
- 1:1 ratio of patients to nurses
- Multiorgan failure
- Ventilation
Criteria for discharge to ward from recovery
- Spontaneous airway maintenance
- Awake and non-drowsy
- Comfortable and pain free
- Haemodynamically stable
- No evidence of haemorrhage
Pulse oximetry infrared wavelength
660-940nm
How does pulse oximetry calculate oxygen saturation
- A constant ‘background’ amount of infrared light is absorbed by skin, venous blood, fat
- A changing amount is absorbed by the pulsatile arterial blood
- The difference between the constant and variable amount is calculated
- Oxygenated Hb and Deoxygenated Hb absorb different amounts at the two wavelengths the saturated Hb can be calculated from the ratio between the two
What can be the delay between a fall in PaO2 and SaO2
15-20 seconds
What can limit the effectiveness of pulse oximetry
- Delay
- Abnormal pulses e.g. AF
- Abnormal Hb or pigments e.g. carbon monoxide poisoning
- Interference e.g. shivering, diathermy
- Poor tissue perfusion
- Nail varnish
Indications for intra-arterial monitoring
- Critically ill/shocked patients
- Major surgery
- Surgery for phaeochromocytoma
- Induced hypotension
- Those requiring frequent ABG e.g. lung disease
- Monitoring use of inotropes
Complications of intra-arterial monitoring
- Embolisation
- Haemorrhage
- Arterial damage and thombosis
- AV fistula formation
- Distal limb ischaemia
- Sepsis
- Tissue necrosis
- Radial nerve damage
Normal CVP range
8-12cmH2O
What can CVP monitoring be useful for
- Assessing circulating volume status
- Assessing myocardial contractility
(- Also for administering TPN or toxic drugs)
Where should the tip of the CVP lie
SVC
When during respiration should the CVP reading be taken
During respiratory end expiration
Common complications of CVP lines
- Sepsis
- Pneumothorax
- Incorrect placement (should be confirmed with CXR)
How is cardiac output calculated using TOE
- US records the change in frequency of the signal that is reflected of the RBCs in the ascending aorta = velocity
- Velocity is multiplied by the cross-sectional area of the aorta = stroke volume
- Stroke volume x heart rate = CO
Where should the tip of a Swan-Ganz (pulmonary artery pressure) catheter lie
- Right atrium to be inflated (proximal lumen remains here)
2. Floated through right ventricle into pulmonary artery (distal lumen/tip)
What is CVP monitoring best for
Assessing adequacy of intravascular volume status by testing with fluid challenge (should cause a prolonged rise in CVP)
What can be measured using a Swan-Ganz catheter
- Stroke volume
- SVR
- Pulmonary artery resistance
- Oxygen delivery (and consumption)
How is cardiac output calculated using Swan-Ganz catheter
Fick principle
What is the tidal volume
- Volume of air moved on quiet respiration
- 0.5L in males
- 0.34L in females
What is the inspiratory reserve volume
- Maximul volume inspirable following normal inhalation
- 3L
What is the expiratory reserve volume
- Maximum volume expirable after tidal volume expiration
- 1L
What is residual volume
- The volume remaining in the lungs after maximum expiration
- FRC-ERV = 1.5L
What is vital capacity
- The volume that can be expired after a maximum inspiratory effort
- 5.6L
- 70ml/KG
What is functional residual capacity
- Volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of normal expiration
- RV + ERV = 2.5L
What is forced vital capacity
The volume of air that can be maximally forcefully exhaled
How is respiratory minute volume calculated
Tidal volume x respiratory rate
What constitutes anatomical dead space
- Mouth
- Nose
- Pharynx
- Larynx
- Trachea
- Bronchi
What constitutes alveolar dead space
Volumes of disease parts of the lung unable to perform gaseous exchange
What is the physiological dead space
Anatomical dead space plus alveolar dead space