Environmental / Venomous (SACCM + Dobratz) Flashcards
Define primary vs secondary hypothermia
primary (aka. accidental): caused by excessive exposure to low environmental temperature without preoptic and anterior hypothalamic nuclei disease.
secondary: caused by disease, trauma, drug-induced, surgery.”
Define mild, moderate and severe hypothermia and what are the expected clinical signs for each
The main thermostat of the body is the hypothalamus, with temperature changes sensed by the ____________. Secondary temperature sensors are located within the skin and deep body tissues; namely, the ________________.
“preoptic and anterior hypothalamic nuclei
spinal cord, abdominal viscera, and great vein”
T/F The core is defined by well-perfused tissues in which the temperature remains relatively uniform, such as within the abdominal and thoracic cavities, or the cerebrum
TRUE
Describe the pathway of termoregulation
Temperature is sensed by the transient receptor potential channels (family of ion channels), which are activated at distinct temperature thresholds. This peripheral input from the skin travels to the spinal cord or trigeminal dorsal horn for passage to the midbrain and thalamus. This thermal information is then output to the sensory cortex, producing the sensation of hot and cold. The behavioral and autonomic responses are linked to the reticular inputs in the brainstem
In a normal body, the rate of heat production depends on:
Activity Enviromental temperature Age Food ingestion Circulating levels of thyroid hormones, epinephrine and NE
Shivering is characterized by involuntary oscillatory skeletal muscular activity and can increase the metabolic rate by a factor of ____________. The energy substrate for shivering is usually carbohydrate oxidation, but in glycogen- depleted patients, _________ reserves need to be used. Therefore this method of heat production may be diminished in the cachectic, the very old, and the very young
four to ten
lipid and protein
The transfer of heat from the body surface to the air surrounding the body is known as:____________.
convection
The transfer of heat from body surface to objects that come into contact with the body, such as the ground, examination tables and kennels is known as: _________________.
Conduction
Immersion hypothermia is an example of which heat loss mechanism?
Conduction
Increasing air circulation is an example of which heat loss mechanism?
Convection
Heat loss to surrounding structures that do not come into direct contact with the body, such as walls; is know as:____________This heat transfer is independent of the termeprature of the intermediary substance (ex. Air).
radiation
The loss of heat from moisture on the body surface or through the respiratory tract to the environment is know as: _____________
Evaporation
Give an example of evaporation heat loss that could be relevant in VM
Wet patients (incidentally or in preparation for surgery)
What makes neonates more prompt to heat loss?
larger body surface area
hypothermia shifts the oxygen-dissociation curve to the _______.
left (more affinity, less O2 delivery)
Why hypotension develops after a prolonged state of hypothermia
Initially there is a sympathetic response but as hypothermia progresses, vascular responsiveness to norepinephrine begins to decrease.
what is the initial dysrhythmia seen in hypothermic patients and how does it progress?
Iinitially atrial fibrilation, which can progress to Vtaq and Vfib.
**As CBT (core body temperature) approaches 23.5C –> 50% of dogs demonstrate vfib
Why tidal volume and respiratory rate decreases with hypothermia
Decreased metabolism –> decreased CO2 production –> decreased stimulus for respiration
Loss of airway protective reflexes and a reduction
in ciliary clearance in a hypothermic patient may predispose the patient to ______________.
aspiration pneumonia
At temperatures below 34° C, the sensitivity to partial pressure of carbon dioxide _______, and carbon dioxide production decreases by_____% with an 8° C fall in body temperature
Decreases
50%
What are neuromuscular effects of hypothermia
Decreased cerebral blood flow (by 6-10% per each 1C of Core body temperature decrease in humans) Increased ICP --> ""cold edema"" Muscle stiffness Ataxia hyperreflexia followed by hyporeflexia pupillary dilation
List causes of acidosis in hypothermic patients
- Increased CO2 in blood due to hypoventilation
- CO2 more soluble in low T –> increases CO2 in blood
- Decreased hepatic clearance of lactate
- Increased lactate production due to shivering and tissue hypoperfusion
- Decreased acid excretion by kidneys
- Decreased buffering capacity of cold blood
List effects of hypothermia on primary hemostasis
- PLT sequestration in liver and spleen (thrombocytopenia).
- Decreased PLT agreggation due to decreased production of thromboxane A2.
- Decreased granule release of platelets (thrombopathia).
- Attenuation of P selectin expression.
- Decreased expression of vWF receptor.