Critical Care Flashcards
When given information about a patient from an external source, what are 3 things that you must always consider?
Severity?
Is the patient suffering from what is claimed?
Never accept anything at face value.
What is focal neurology?
A neurological impairment that affects a specific region of the body.
What is the single most appropriate action when sepsis is suspected?
IV access and fluid resuscitation.
What are the 2 categories of fluids? And what is the difference?
Crystalloids (same as plasma concentration) and colloids (synthetic HIGHER osmotic pressure).
In reality there is little difference in terms of resuscitation.
What dictates the maximum rate of bolus delivery in fluid resuscitation?
Size of cannula.
How fast would you infuse someone with fluid?
500-1000ml over 10-20mins.
Why do you do a head CT before a lumbar puncture?
If there is ICP present, coning can occur - this is brainsteam compression as brain moves to fill space created by LP.
What are some signs of ICP? (4)
Papillodoema
Headache that changes on movement
Nausea and vomiting
Deteriorating neurological function
What treatment would you give for meningitis:
- in hospital?
- in a GP?
- Ceftriaxone 2g IV
- Benzylpenicillin 1.2g IM (in the bum)
Where do you perform a lumbar puncture?
L5 ish
Where does the spinal cord end?
L1/2
What would you expect the protein and glucose levels be in a LP of a bacterial meningitis patient?
High protein, low glucose
Meningitis:
When looking at lumbar puncture results, how would you determine whether
Virus or bacteria
Bacteria are large with lots of protein in them, viruses might have SOME protein in them
Bacteria make it gunky
Bacteria like glucose, so glucose levels likely to be low, with viruses it can be normal
Red cells are in subarachnoid haemorrhage
What is SIRS?
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome
Temp 38
HR > 90bpm
RR > 24
White cells 12
What is sepsis?
When a patient amount a SIRS to an infectious pathogen (OR - PE, anaphylaxis, acute pancreatitis, recent surgery)
What is septic shock?
Ongoing hypoperfusion (low BP, raised lactate, organ dysfunction) despite aggressive fluid resuscitation Patient should always be assessed for ITU.
What is the morality of septic shock?
50%
What are the sepsis 6? When should they be done?
NB - take 3, give 3. In first hour.
Oxygen
Blood culture
ABG (v useful to assess how sick - especially LACTATE levels)
IV antibiotics
Fluid
Catheter
What is a significant ingestion of paracetomol?
And in patients with liver dysfunction?
Ingested dose 12g or more/24h
Ingested dose >150g/kg
What bloods do you request in suspected paracetomol OD and why? (4)
Paracetamol level
LFTs
U&Es (prognosis - is there kidney damage?)
INR (liver damage can affect clotting function)