Emma Holliday Flashcards
Name two absolute contraindications to surgery.
- diabetic coma
- DKA
Name two relative contraindications to surgery.
- poor nutritional status defined as albumin <3, transferrin <200, or >20% weight loss
- severe liver failure defined by bilirubin >2, PT > 16, ammonia > 150, or encephalopathy
Describe three values suggestive of poor nutritional status in a surgical candidate.
- albumin less than 3
- transferrin less than 200
- greater than 20% weight loss
Describe four indicators of severe liver failure in a surgical candidate that may be relative contraindications to surgery.
- bilirubin greater than 2
- PT greater than 16
- ammonia greater than 150
- clinical encephalopathy
How long should smokers abstain from tobacco products prior to undergoing surgery?
8 weeks
Why should smokers stop smoking at least two months prior to undergoing surgery?
smoking is a negative predictor for wound healing
What is important for smokers and those with COPD in the immediate post-op period?
avoid excess O2 supplementation as it may suppress respiratory drive in these CO2 retainers
What is Goldman’s index?
an index of cardiac risk used to assess the risk for preoperative mortality in surgical patients
What are the three most important factors when calculating a patient’s Goldman index for cardiac risk?
- history of CHF
- history of MI within the last 6 months
- presence of an arrhythmia
If a preoperative patient has a history of CHF or a history of MI within the last 6 months, what steps should be taken prior to surgery?
- if CHF, get an echo; surgery is avoided unless absolutely necessary in patients with an EF less than 35%
- if MI, get an ECG, then get a stress test if abnormal, then perform a cath if abnormal, then perform revascularization if cath is abnormal
Describe an aortic stenosis murmur.
it is a late systolic, crescendo-decrescendo murmur that radiates to the carotids and increases with squatting but decreases with standing
Why is aortic stenosis an important finding in the preoperative assessment?
it is a contributor of the Goldman’s index and is a marker for increased cardiac risk and perioperative mortality
Name five medications it is important to stop prior to surgery.
- aspirin
- NSAIDs
- vitamin E
- warfarin
- metformin
If a patient is taking warfarin, how long before surgery should this be stopped and what is the desired INR going into surgery?
it should be stopped 5 days prior to surgery with a drop in INR to less than 1.5
Why is it important to stop taking metformin prior to undergoing surgery?
it increases the risk for lactic acidosis
How long before surgery should a patient stop taking aspirin, NSAIDs, and vitamin E?
two weeks
What changes to a patient’s insulin regiment should be made prior to surgery?
they should take half the morning dose of insulin on the day of surgery
Patients on dialysis should undergo dialysis how close to undergoing surgery?
they should be dialyzed within 24 hours preoperatively
Why do we check the BUN and creatinine in patients with CKD prior to surgery?
because a BUN greater than 100 increases the risk for post-op bleeding secondary to uremic platelet dysfunction
How does uremic platelet dysfunction appear on a coagulation panel?
- platelet count is normal
- but bleeding time is prolonged
What is assist-control ventilation?
- set the tidal volume and minimal rate
- patient can breath faster and if they initiate and extra breath, the ventilator gives the desired tidal volume
What is pressure support ventilation?
- set the tidal volume but the rate is entirely patient driven
- important for weaning patient from the ventilator
What ventilator mode is an important stepping stone when attempting to wean patients from the ventilator?
pressure support in which the tidal volume is set but the rate is entirely patient driven
How does pressure support differ from CPAP?
- pressure support is a mode in which the tidal volume is set and adequate pressure is given to support that volume whenever the patient initiates a breath
- CPAP is a continuous underlying pressure used to ensure the alveoli remain open
What is PEEP?
pressure given at the end of a respiratory cycle to keep the alveoli open, particularly in the case of ARDS or CHF
What mode of ventilation is used in those with ARDS or CHF?
PEEP
What is the best test to order when evaluating whether a patient on a ventilator is being appropriately managed?
ABG
How should a patient’s ventilation settings be changed if a patient has low PaO2?
FiO2 should be increased
PaCO2 is dependent on what two factors?
tidal volume (more efficient to change) and respiratory rate
Why is it mo re efficient to adjust a patient’s tidal volume than their respiratory rate if their PaCO2 is abnormal?
because increasing the respiratory rate also increases ventilation of dead space whereas altering the tidal volume changes more functional ventilation
How is the anion gap calculated and what is normal?
- the gap equals (sodium - chloride - bicarb)
- normal is 8-12
What are possible causes of an anion gap metabolic acidosis?
MUDPILES
- methanol
- uremia
- DKA
- paraldehyde
- iron, isoniazid
- lactic acidosis
- ethylene glycol
- salicylates
What are possible causes of a non-gap metabolic acidosis?
- diarrhea
- diuretics
- RTAs
How are metabolic alkaloses differentiated?
based on urine chloride
- less than 20: vomiting/NG tube, antacids, diuretics
- more than 20: Conn’s, Bartter’s, Gittleman’s
What are the first two things to check in a patient with hyponatremia?
- check the plasma osmolality
- then check the patient’s volume status
What are potential causes of the following types of hyponatremia:
- hypervolemic
- normovolemic
- hypovolemic
- hypervolemic: CHF, nephrotic syndrome, cirrhosis
- normovolemic: SIADH, Addison’s, hypothyroidism
- hypovolemic: diuretics, vomiting
How is hyponatremia treated?
- normally, fluid restriction plus diuretics
- use normal saline if hypovolemic
- use 3% saline if symptomatic (namely seizures) or have a sodium less than 110
What is an appropriate rate for correcting hyponatremia? What is the risk associated with correcting hyponatremia too quickly?
- 0.5-1.0 mEq per hour
- central pontine myelinolysis
How is hypernatremia treated?
replace lost fluid with D5W or another hypotonic fluid
What is the risk associated with correcting hypernatremia too quickly?
cerebral edema
What are the symptoms of hypocalcemia and hypercalcemia?
- hypocalcemia: numbness, chvostek sign, Troussaeu sign, prolonged QT interval
- hypercalcemia: bones, stones, groans, psych overtones, and shortened QT syndrome
What are the symptoms of hypokalemia and hyperkalemia?
- hypokalemia: paralysis, ileum, ST depression, U waves
- hyperkalemia: peaked T waves, prolonged PR and QRS, sine waves
What are the clinical features of hyperkalemia and how is it treated?
- presents with ECG changes including peaked T waves, prolonged PR and QRS, and sine waves
- treat with calcium gluconate first, then insulin and glucose
- can use kayexalate, albuterol, and sodium bicarb as well
- dialysis is a last resort
What is the preferred maintenance fluid?
D5 in half NS with 20 KCl (if peeing)
What are three risks associated with the use of TPN?
- calculus cholecystitis
- liver dysfunction
- hyperglycemia, zinc deficiency, and other lyte problems
What is the appropriate treatment for a circumferential burn? Why?
an escharotomy because we are worried about compartment syndrome
What is the feared complication of smoke inhalation?
laryngeal edema compromising the airway
Describe the presentation of carbon monoxide poisoning?
- altered mental status
- headache
- cherry read skin
- history of exposure
Describe the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- presents with a history of exposure, altered mental status, headache, and cherry red skin
- diagnose with a carboxyhemoglobin test (remember that pulse ox is worthless)
- 100% oxygen or hyperbaric oxygen if carboxyhemoglobin is severely elevated
Why is SaO2 a poor test of someone suspected of having carbon monoxide poisoning?
because CO actually causes a leftward shift of the oxygen dissociation curve
What would a the most likely cause of a clotting disorder in the following populations:
- the elderly
- those with edema, hypertension, and foamy urine
- a young person with family history
- unresponsive to heparin
- young woman with history of multiple spontaneous abortions
- post operatively with thrombocytopenia
- elderly: think malignancy
- edema, HTN, foamy urine: nephrotic syndrome
- young with FH: factor V leiden mutation
- unresponsive to heparin: antithrombin III deficiency
- young with multiple spontaneous abortions: lupus anticoagulant
- post-op with thrombocytopenia: HIT
What is unique about the presentation and treatment of antithrombin III deficiency?
these patients are unresponsive to heparin
Describe the lab findings suggestive of vWD.
- normal platelet count
- prolonged bleeding time and PTT
What is the rule for fluid resuscitation of burn victims?
- for adults, give kg x %BSA x 3-4 of LR or NS
- for kids give kg x %BSA x 2-4 of LR or NS
- give half over the first eight hours and the rest over the subsequent sixteen hours
What is unique about the antibiotics given to burn victims?
we avoid PO and IV antibiotics because it breeds resistance and instead we use topical antibiotics (silver sulfadiazine, mafenide, silver nitrate)
What are and what is unique about the three major topical antibiotics given to burn victims?
- silver sulfadiazine: doesn’t penetrate eschars well and can cause leukopenia
- mafenide: will penetrate eschars but is severely painful
- silver nitrate: doesn’t penetrate eschars and causes hypokalemia and hyponatremia
If you suffer a chemical burn, what is the best next step?
irrigate for at least thirty minutes
If you suffer an electrical burn, what is the best next step? What about after that?
get an ECG, if abnormal these patients need at least 48 hours of telemetry
If you suffer an electrical burn and have an abnormal ECG, what is the best next step?
48 hours of telemetry
If a patient’s urine dipstick is positive for blood but is negative RBCs, this is indicative of what disease? What are the feared complications of this?
rhabdomyolysis, which is likely to cause ATN and hyperkalemia
What are two important complications of rhabdomyolysis?
- ATN
- hyperkalemia
What are the criteria for compartment syndrome?
- the five P’s: pain, pallor, paresthesia, pulselessness, paralysis
- or a compartment pressure greater than 30 mmHg
What level of consciousness warrants intubation in a trauma patient?
if they come in unconscious or have a GCS less than 8
If a patient sustains trauma to the neck and you hear subcutaneous emphysema when palpating the neck, what should be your first step?
intubate using a fiberoptic bronchoscope because you may have a laryngeal injury
What should be the first step if a trauma patient comes in with a GCS of 7 after sustaining a severe facial injury?
perform a cricothyroidotomy in any circumstance where ET tube placement may be difficult
A widened mediastinum in a trauma patient is likely indicative of what?
a great vessel injury
Which patients with a hemothorax warrant thoracotomy?
- greater than 1500cc upon placement of a chest tube
- greater than 200cc/hr over the first 4 hours
What are the criteria that define a flail chest?
two or more fractures on three or more consecutive ribs
How is flail chest treated?
supplemental oxygen and pain control with a nerve block (don’t use opioids which may decrease respiratory drive)
If a trauma patient presents with confusion, petechial rash on chest, and acute SOB, what are we worried about?
fat embolism
What are risk factors for an air embolism?
- removal of a central line
- lung trauma
- vent use
- post-op for heart vessel surgery
What is the best next step for a patient suffering from hypovolemic/hemorrhagic shock?
- place 2 large bore PIV
- run 2L NS or LR over 20 min followed by blood if there isn’t an appropriate response
Electrical alternans is indicative of what disease process?
cardiac tamponade
What is pulsus paradoxus?
a fall in systolic blood pressure greater than 10mmHg with inspiration indicative of pericardial tamponade
What is the confirmatory test for pulsus paradoxes?
FAST scan or needle decompression if suspicion is high
What is the next best step for someone with a tension pneumothorax?
needle decompression followed by chest tube placement (you don’t have time for a CXR)
Describe the swan-ganz catheter findings in each of the following types of shock:
- hypovolemic
- vasogenic
- neurogenic
- cardiogenic
- hypovolemic: low RAP/PCWP, high SVR, low CO
- vasogenic: low RAP/PCWP, low SVR, high CO
- neurogenic: low RAP/PCWP, low SVR, high CO
- cardiogenic: high RAP/PCWP, high SVR, low CO
What is neurogenic shock?
a form of vasogenic shock in which spinal cord injury, spinal anesthesia, or adrenal insufficiency causes an acute loss of sympathetic vascular tone
Describe the treatment for each of the following types of shock:
- hypovolemic
- vasogenic
- neurogenic
- cardiogenic
- hypovolemic: crystalloid resuscitation
- vasogenic: fluid resuscitation and treatment of the offending agent (antibiotics or anti-histamines)
- neurogenic: dexamethasone if due to adrenal insufficiency
- cardiogenic: give diuretics, treat the HR to 60-100, then address the rhythm, and finally give vasopressor support if necessary
How is GCS calculated?
- 4 eyes: spontaneous, to speech, to pain, no response
- 6 motor: obeys, localizes, withdraws from pain, abnormal flexion, abnormal extension, no response
- 5 verbal: oriented, confused, inappropriate words, incomprehensible sounds, no response
What is the best first test in someone who has sustained head trauma?
CT
How can an acute subdural be differentiated from a chronic subdural?
- acute subdural are hyperdense
- chronic subdural are hypodense
What signs and symptoms are indicative of increased intracranial pressure?
- papilledema
- headache
- vomiting
- altered mental status
How is increased intracranial pressure treated?
- elevate the head of the bed
- give mannitol
- hyperventilate to pCO2 of 28-32