geri Flashcards
Death Certification:
- Steps
- Pupils are fixed and dilated
no response to pain
no breath or heart sounds after 1 minute of auscultation
transferred to the mortuary + doc (14days) completes death certificated
1a – Cause of death
1b – Condition leading to cause of death
1c – Additional condition leading to 1b
2 – Any contributing factors or conditions
For example
1a – Type 2 respiratory failure
1b – Congestive Cardiac Failure
1c – Myocardial Infarction
2 – Ischaemic heart disease, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus
Cremation paperwork is complete by 2 independent doctors, one of whom has cared for the patient. Part 1 is completed by the doctor who knows the patient and part 2 by an independent doctor, two years post registration, seeking confirmation of the cause of death from a variety of sources. To cremate a body pacemakers and radioactive implants must be removed.
Be aware that different religions have different beliefs regarding post death care and some require burial within 24 hours.
- A death should be reported to the coroner when a doctor knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the death:
- The coroner should also be informed where:
- Occurred as a result of poisoning, the use of a controlled drug, medicinal product, or toxic chemical
- Occurred as a result of trauma, violence or physical injury, whether inflicted intentionally or otherwise;
- Is related to any treatment or procedure of a medical or similar nature;
- occurred as a result of self-harm, (including a failure by the deceased person to preserve their own life) whether intentional or otherwise;
- occurred as a result of an injury or disease received during, or attributable to, the course of the person’s work;
- occurred as a result of a notifiable accident, poisoning, or disease;
- occurred as a result of neglect or failure of care by another person;
- Was otherwise unnatural.
- The death occurred in custody or otherwise in state detention – of whatever cause. This includes Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding authorisations (DoLS)
No attending practitioner attended the deceased at any time in the 14 days prior to death or no attending practitioner is available within a reasonable period to prepare an MCCD;
The identity of the deceased is unknown.
Palliative Care
- End of life or the dying phase can be recognised when people are reaching the following stages in their disease trajectory:
- Symptoms facing people at the end of their life include:
Personal care should continue to be given to ensure comfort. Observations if no longer appropriate should be stopped. Regular mouth care should be prescribed and given
Good communication is key at this stage of life.
Macmillan nurses and the palliative care team can support at this stage. Hospices and community hospital beds are available for patients who have symptoms requiring ongoing treatment or support. The majority of patients prefer to be cared for at home.
1.
- Bed bound
- Semi comatose
- Only able to take sips of fluid
- Unable to take medicine orally
2.
Nausea and Vomiting
Dyspnoea
Agitation
Confusion
Constipation
Anorexia
Terminal
Secretions
Stroke
- Definition
- How can we identify which vascular teritory is involved?
- sudden onset of a focal neurological deficit lasting >24hrs
OR
With imaging evidence of brain damage due to either infarction (emboli, in situ thrombosis or low blood flow) or haemorrhage.
- Bamford classification
stroke
- What classification could we use to consider the underlying aetiology of infarcts
- How can we classify bleeds in stroke
1.
- primary: hypertension, cerebral amyloid angiopathy;
secondary: trauma, anticoagulation-associated, underlying structural abnormality).
Treating ischaemic strokes:
- Thrombolysis e.g. alteplase (dissolves blood clots and restores blood flow to the brain)
not generally recommended if >4.5hrs have passed, as it’s not clear how beneficial it is when used after this time.
Brain scan must be carried out to confirm an ischaemic stroke.
- Thrombectomy (small proportion)
Only effective with blood clots in a large artery
Catheter into an artery, often in the groin. A small device is passed through the catheter into the artery in the brain.
The blood clot can then be removed using the device, or through suction. The procedure can be carried out under local or general anaesthetic.
- Antiplatelets
Most people will be offered a regular dose of aspirin (painkiller + antiplatelet), reduces the chances of another clot forming.
others clopidogrel and dipyridamole
- Anticoagulants
Help reduce their risk of developing further blood clots in the future.
Anticoagulants prevent blood clots by changing the chemical composition of the blood in a way that prevents clots occurring.
Warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban and rivaroxaban are examples of anticoagulants for long-term use.
There are also a number of anticoagulants called heparins, which can only be given by injection and are used short term.
Anticoagulants may be offered if you:
have a type of irregular heartbeat e.g. atrial fibrillation, which can cause blood clots, have a history of blood clots
develop a blood clot in your leg veins (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) because a stroke has left you unable to move one of your legs
- Antihypertensives
Medicines that are commonly used include:
thiazide diuretics
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
calcium channel blockers
beta-blockers
alpha-blockers
Find out more about treating high blood pressure
- Statins
If the level of cholesterol in your blood is too high, you’ll be advised to take a medicine known as a statin.
Statins reduce the level of cholesterol in your blood by blocking a chemical (enzyme) in the liver that produces cholesterol.
You may be offered a statin even if your cholesterol level is not particularly high, as it may help reduce your risk of stroke whatever your cholesterol level is.
Carotid endarterectomy
Some ischaemic strokes are caused by narrowing of an artery in the neck called the carotid artery, which carries blood to the brain.
The narrowing, known as carotid stenosis, is caused by a build-up of fatty plaques.
If the carotid stenosis is particularly severe, surgery may be offered to unblock the artery.
This is done using a surgical technique called a carotid endarterectomy.
It involves the surgeon making a cut (incision) in your neck to open up the carotid artery and remove the fatty deposits.
Treating haemorrhagic strokes
Anti-hypertensives
Surgery
e.g. craniotomy
repair any damaged blood vessels
After the bleeding has been stopped, the piece of bone removed from the skull is replaced, often by an artificial metal plate.
Surgery for hydrocephalus
Surgery can also be carried out to treat a complication of haemorrhagic strokes called hydrocephalus.
Headaches, sickness, drowsiness, vomiting and loss of balance.
shunt into the brain to allow the fluid to drain properly
Find out more about treating hydrocephalus
Supportive treatments
- a feeding tube inserted into your stomach through your nose (nasogastric tube) to provide nutrition if you have difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- nutritional supplements if you’re malnourished
- fluids given directly into a vein (intravenously) if you’re at risk of dehydration
- oxygen through a nasal tube or face mask if you have low levels of oxygen in your blood
- compression stockings to prevent blood clots in the leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT)
What must you consider in stroke recovery
Few assessment tools are used for the rapid assessment of a patient presenting with a suspected stroke. These include:
o FAST: Face (facial drooping) Arm (arm weakness), Speech( speech slurred) and Time ( time to call 999). This was developed to raise public awareness to recognise signs of a stroke and call for help early.
o ROSIER: the rosier scale has been developed to help medical staff distinguish between a stroke and a stroke mimic. This is commonly used in the accident and emergency department. A copy of this can be found in your appendix.
Stroke mimics
What scale can be used to documeent neurological status in acute stroke patients?
NIH Stroke Scale/Score (NIHSS) REVISE
The stroke scale can serve as a measure of stroke severity.
15 items:
- Consciousness: 1a. alert, arouses to minor stimulation 1b. ask month and age 1c. blink eyes squeeze hands
- Language:
- Neglect:
- Visual-field loss: bilateral hemi-anopia
- extra ocular movement:
- motor strength: 1a. left arm motor drift. 1b. right arm motor drift 1c.
- ataxia:
- dysarthria:
- sensory loss:
- All people presenting with acute stroke who have had a diagnosis of primary intracerebral haemorrhage excluded by brain imaging should be given:
- How long can you not drive for?
- Patients with stable neurological symptoms from their stroke or TIA who have carotid stenosis of 50–99% according to the NASCET (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial) criteria, or 70–99% according to the ECST (European Carotid Surgery Trialists’ Collaborative Group) criteria on the side relating to the stroke should:
o aspirin 300 mg orally if they are not dysphagic or
o aspirin 300 mg rectally or by enteral tube if they are dysphagic
Aspirin 300 mg should be continued until 2 weeks after the onset of stroke symptoms, at which time definitive long-term antithrombotic treatment should be initiated.
Prevention of stroke is important. If someone has risk factors for stroke then these need to be managed. Some risk factors are fixed, some are modifiable by lifestyle changes and others are medically modifiable
- Following a stroke or TIA you are not permitted to drive for one month. After this time you may do so as long as there are no permanent neurologicalsequale. If you have recurrent TIA’s you cannot drive for 3 months and youmust be assessed by a doctor prior to resumption of driving.
3.
- Be assessed and referred for carotid endarterectomy within 1 week of onset of stroke or TIA symptoms
- Undergo surgery within a maximum of 2 weeks of onset of stroke or TIA symptoms
- In both cases fitness for surgery should be assessed and there may be a small risk of stroke during surgery.
People with severe middle cerebral artery infarction can be at risk of malignant MCA syndrome and should be considered for decompressive hemicraniectomy if any deterioration in their clinical condition occurs presenting in a decrease in conscious level. They should be referred within 24 hours of onset of symptoms and treated within a maximum of 48 hours. They must be under the age of 60, with a CT infarct of at least 50% MCA territory and an NIHSS score of above 15
Be aware that there are many stroke mimics including ? in those with pre-existing neurological weakness. History and examination is important to differentiate between these
CHADS-VASC 2 score is important in determining if someone is suitable for anticoagulation if they are in atrial fibrillation and are at risk of stroke. This is useful when considered with a HASBLED score. Anticoagulation now is divided into warfarin vs ?
seizures, space occupying lesions, hemiplegic migraine, multiple sclerosis and sepsis
DOAC (Direct Oral Anti Coagulant) e.g. Apixaban, Dabigatran, Rivoraxaban, Edoxaban
Transient Ischaemic Attacks (TIA’s)
Transient ischaemic attacks are focal neurological deficits due to blockage of blood supply to a part of the brain (focal brain dysfunction) lasting less than 24 hours (but in practice most TIAs last much less than that).
- What scoring system is used for TIAs
- If they are high risk they are prioritised to be seen in the TIA clinic or by a stroke physician as soon as possible. People who have had a suspected TIA should have aspirin (300 mg daily) started immediately
The potential investigations for a patient with a TIA may include…
The treatment would include lifestyle modifications, treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, surgical intervention for carotid artery disease if appropriate and antiplatelets.
People with crescendo TIA (two or more TIAs in a week) should be treated as being at high risk of stroke
The ABCD2 score is a risk assessment tool designed to improve the prediction of short-term risk of a stroke after a transient ischemic attack (TIA). It is not a diagnostic tool.
- The ABCD2 score is calculated by summing up the points for five different factors including age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of symptoms and the presence of diabetes. ABCD2>=4 indicates a higher risk.
- blood tests, carotid Doppler and a brain scan (CT or MRI)
Causes of constipation?
Medications that can cause constipation
types of incontinence?
- What are the causes of incontinence
- A careful continence history often helps with diagnosis and should look at:
- For a complete continence examination the following are mandatory:
- image
- how people void, frequency, symptoms, oral intake and types of drinks consumed, bowel habit-including stool type and frequency, a full drug history and a collateral if required.
3.
o Review of bladder and bowel diary
o Abdominal examination
o Urine dipstick and MSU
o PR examination including prostate assessment in a male
o External genitalia review particularly looking for atrophic vaginitis in females
o A post micturition bladder scan
Neither drug therapy nor pads are first line management for patients with urinary incontinence. Most intervention is simple to begin with including switching to decaffeinated drinks, good bowel habit, improving oral intake, regular toileting and pelvic floor exercises and bladder retraining
When non pharmacological measures have been exhausted then pharmacological measures can be trialled. Remember that anticholinergics are not good in older people and oxybutynin whilst good for younger patients is not good for older people. Many of the drugs used for bladder stabilisation can also cause postural hypotension leading to increased falls.
- Delirium features:
- Cause?
- More common in patients who are?
- Delirium is associated with:
- Delirium can take time to resolve and can take anywhere up to 3 months to get back to previous levels of functioning. Some people never get back to their baseline.
Delirium is on the whole managed with supportive care by treating the underlying cause and orientating them to time and place. Remember that most behaviour in someone who is confused can be explained.
Pharmocological treatment should be reserved for extreme cases where the patient is at significant risk to themselves or to others.
Delirium can be defined as hyperactive (agitated and confused), hypoactive (withdrawn and drowsy) or mixed.
A collateral history is key to distinguishing between a delirium and a dementia.
Preventing delirium in those at risk is extremely important.
- sudden onset, fluctuating, develops over 1-2days, change in consciousness either hyper or hypoalert and inattention
- underlying medical problem, substance intoxication, substance withdrawal or a combination of those, Infection, electrolyte imbalance, hypoxia, drugs including opiates, urinary retention, constipation and uncontrolled pain.
- frailer, have sensory impairment, cognitive impairment. Those having surgery or that have hip fractures in addition to those with severe infections are at risk.
- increased mortality, prolonged hospital admission, higher complication rates, institutionalisation and increased risk of developing dementia
