Critical Care

Question 1

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)

Answer 1

is nonspecific and can be caused by ischemia, inflammation, trauma, infection, or several insults combined. Thus, it is not always related to infection. Must include 2 or more of the following: fever of more than 38C or less than 36C; HR more than 90 BPM; Resp rate more than 20 breaths per min or arterial CO2 less than 32 mmHg; abnormal WBC count greater than 12,000/uL or less than 4,000/uL

Question 2

Sepsis

Answer 2

potentially life-threatening complication of infection. Occurs when chemicals released into the bloodstream to fight the infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This inflammation can trigger a cascade of changes that can damage multiple organ systems, causing them to fail.

Question 3

Septic Shock

Answer 3

occurs as a complication of an infection where toxins can initiate a full-body inflammatory response. It is sespsis with hypotension, despite adequate fluid resuscitation.

Question 4

Hematemesis

Answer 4

the vomiting of blood

Question 5

Edema

Answer 5

results when small blood vessels become leaky and release fluid into nearby tissues. It is a general response to injury or inflammation

Question 6

Pancytopenia

Answer 6

deficiency of all types of blood cells, including WBCs, RBC, and platelets. Occurs when the body cannot produce enough blood cells because the bone marrow stem cells that form blood cells do not function normally. Can create oxygen shortages and problems with immune function.

Question 7

Aplastic Anemia

Answer 7

medical term that refers to a decrease in production of all types of blood cells

Question 8

Leukocytosis

Answer 8

an increase in the number of WBCs in the circulating blood that occurs normally (after meals) or abnormally (as in some infections)

Question 9

Aspiration

Answer 9

breathing in a foreign object such as sucking food or liquid into the airway

Question 10

Aspiration Pneumonia

Answer 10

occurs when food, saliva, liquids, or vomit is breathed into the lungs or airways leading to the lungs resulting in swelling and/or infection of the lungs and/or large airways

Question 11

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Answer 11

refers to a group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult. Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis are the 2 most common conditions of COPD. Damage from COPD cannot be reversed, but tx can help control symptoms

Question 12

Emphysema

Answer 12

occurs when alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages (bronchioles) in the lungs are gradually destroyed

Question 13

Chronic Bronchitis

Answer 13

inflammation fo the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs

Question 14

Empyema

Answer 14

collection of pus in the space between the lung and the inner surface of the chest (pleural space)

Question 15

Pulmonary Edema

Answer 15

condition caused by excess fluid in the longs. The fluid collects in the numerous alveoli, making it dififcult to breathe

Question 16

Acute Lung Injury (ALI)

Answer 16

acute lung disease with bilateral pulmonary infiltrate in a chest xray consistent with the presenc of edema and no clinical evidence of L atrial HTN.

Question 17

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndroms (ARDS)

Answer 17

lung condition that leads to low oxygen levels in the blood

Question 18

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

Answer 18

sudden loss of kidney function

Question 19

Multi System Organ Failure (MSOF)

Answer 19

a continuum, with incremental degress of physiologic derangements in individual organs; it is a proces rather than a single event.

Question 20

Ileus

Answer 20

partial or complete non-mechanical blockage of the small and/or large intestine

Question 21

Pneumothorax

Answer 21

collapsed lung; an abnormal collection of air, gas, or pus that puts pressure on the lung so that it cannot expand as much as it normally does

Question 22

Angioedema

Answer 22

swelling of the deep dermis, subcutaneous, or submucosal tissue due to vascular leakage. Acute epidsode often involve the lip, eyes, and face; however it may effect other parts of the body, including respiratory and GI mucosa. Laryngeal swelling can be life-threatening.

Question 23

Atelectasis

Answer 23

a complete or patial collapse of a lung or lobe of a lung. Develops when alveoli within the lung become deflated. One of the most commone respiratory complications after surgery. Can also be a possible complication of other respiratory problems including CF, inhaled foreign objects, lung tumors, fluid in the lung, severe asthma and chest injuries

Question 24

Anasarca

Answer 24

term for an individual who expereinces generalized edema

Question 25

Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN)

Answer 25

most common cause of AKI. Due to acute decrease in GFR to very low levels, with sudden increase in serum creatinine and BUN concentrations

Question 26

Melena

Answer 26

the passage of dark tar-like stools stained with altered blood

Question 27

Fuliment Hepatic Failure

Answer 27

also known as Acute Liver Failure, is a condition in which necrosed liver cells are replaced by scar tissue instead of new liver cells. This leads to impariment of the liver in preforming normal functions. Suddenly, the liver stops working and causes encephalopathy within 2-12 weeks.

Question 28

Bronchoscopy

Answer 28

a procedure used to view a patient's lung, airway, voice box, vocal cord, trachea, and many braches of bronchi. Flexible bronchoscopy causes less discomfort for the patient than rigid bronchoscopy.

Question 29

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Answer 29

when external mechanical force causes brain dysfunction. Sometimes the Glasgo Coma Scale is used to assess the initial severity of injury; 15 point scale, higher scores mean milder injuries

Question 30

Tracheostomy/otomy

Answer 30

an opening is surgically created through the neck into the trachea (windpipe) to allow direct access to the breathing tube and is commonly done in the OR under general anesthesia. A tube is usually placed through this opening to provide an airway and remove secretions from the lungs

Question 31

Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH)

Answer 31

bleeding in the brain caused by a ruptured blood vessel. Blood irritates the brain tissues, causing swelling (cerebral edema). It can collect into a mass called a hematoma. Either swelling or a hematoma will increase pressure on nearby brain tissues and can quickly destroy them

Question 32

Anoxic Brain Injury

Answer 32

a result of oxygen deprivation. The brain begins losing brain cells after only 4 minutes without oxygen

Question 33

Pulmonary Embolism

Answer 33

a blood clot in the lung; DVTs have the potential to break off and enter the lungs or heart

Question 34

Hypotension

Answer 34

\<90/60 mmHg

Question 35

Diffuse Intravascular Coagulation

Answer 35

a serious disorder in which the proteins that control blood clotting become abnormally active causing blood clots to form in small blood vessels resulting in tissue necrosis.