Geriatric Patients Vs Trauma Flashcards
Why are geriatric patients bones more vulnerable to trauma
Geriatric patients often suffer from osteoporosis or osteopenia which causes there bones to be more fragile
Why do geriatric patients have less protection against blunt or penetrating trauma?
Because they have less soft tissue, muscle, and fat
Why are geriatric patients at higher risk for c-spine injuries
This is due to age related factors such as
- spinal stenosis
- decreased neck mobility
- previous surgeries like neck fusions
Geriatrics have a decreased production of collagen, what is the consequence of this?
They have less flexibility in the bones which increase their risk of fractures
Kyphosis makes things difficult for paramedics to do their job. What are these things?
- applying SMR
- air way management
What co-morbidities in older adults hinder their ability to compensate for trauma?
- impaired renal fx ie. RAAS
- loss of elasticity in the blood vessels decreasing vasoconstriction
- neurotransmitters and hormones are less effective
Why might the heart rate not increase appropriately to compensent for trauma?
Due to the use of medications such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers
They also have a reduced cardiac reserve making it difficult to maintain an elevated Herat rate during stress
Geriatric patients are at higher risk for fluid overload and cardiac complications. What conditions contribute to these complications.
Heart failure or fibrotic changes
Aging increases the risk of vascular insufficiencies such as….
- fibrosis
- plaques
- and stenosis
What is the consequence of vascular insufficiencies
They reduce the ability of vessels to stretch and constrict which limits the bodies compensation for trauma
what do calcium channel blockers do?
they inhibit vasoconstriction which is important compensatory mechanism for shock
why might elederly have a decreased respiratory reserve
due to conditions like COPD, Asthma, or age related pulmonary fibrosis
what is cerebral atrophy
the shrinking of brain tissue, loss of neurons and body water
what are implications of cerebral atrophy
- increased intercranial space for blood or fluid to accumulate
- risk for delayed hemmorrhage
