Hematologic and Oncologic Emergencies Flashcards
What is pallor?
What is a possible cause?
decreased or absent skin color, possible caused by a decrease in Hgb
What is flushing?
What is a possible cause?
Transient episodes of red skin around the face and neck, possible cause; increased hemoglobin level (polycythemia) and capillary congestion
What is Jaundice?
What is a possible cause?
Yellowish skin and mucous membranes, possible causes; accumulation of bile pigment caused by rapid hemolysis or liver damage.
What is Cyanosis?
What is a possible cause?
bluish skin and mucous membranes, possible causes; decreased hemoglobin level and an excessive concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood.
What is Pruritis?
What is a possible cause?
is an unpleasant cutaneous sensation that provokes the desire to rub and scratch the skin. The possible causes include hodgkin’s disease and increased bilirubin level
What is Petechia?
What is a possible cause?
- tiny purple spots appearing on the skin as a result of tiny hemorrhages (bleeding) within the dermal or submucosal layers.
What is Angioma?
What is a possible cause?
a benign tumor of the blood or blood vessels. It is usually congenital. Some may disappear spontaneously
What is Telangiectasia?
What is a possible cause?
can be a small angioma with a tendency to bleed, focal red lesions, or course or fine red lines that are caused by the dilation of small vessels.
chronic anemia may result from diminished erythrocyte production which occurs in these 7 conditions
Iron deficiency anemia Thalassemia Lead poisoning Vitamin B12 deficiency Chronic liver and renal disease Hypothyroidism Can also stem from decreased bone marrow production, which causes aplastic anemia.
Sickle cell disease
Normal red blood cells have a lifespan of about __ days, Hgb S RBC’s have a lifespan of about __ to __ days, leading to chronic anemia and elevated reticulocyte count
120
10 - 20
Sickle cell disease
Factors that can predispose the cells to sickling include (9)
Exposure to low O2 concentrations, dehydration, infection, acidosis, high altitudes, exposure to cold, alcohol intoxication, emotional stress, pregnancy
Sickle cell disease
Vaso-occlusive crisis occurs when small vessels in the bone, soft tissue, and organs such as (5)
liver, spleen, penis, brain, lungs
Sickle cell disease
Acute aplastic crisis
what is it?
occurs from an abrupt, temporary cessation of RBC production in the bone marrow, and commonly occurs from infection (infectious crisis)
Sickle cell disease Acute sequestration What organ does it originate in? What are the S/S? Is the leading cause of what in this patient population?
the spleen abruptly enlarges, trapping a large portion of RBC’s. Other findings include vomiting, left sided abdominal pain, and shock
Can occur rapidly and is the leading cause of death in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease
Sickle cell disease Acute Chest Syndrome How is it described? What causes it? What does it cause?
The syndrome is a vaso-occlusive crisis involving the pulmonary vessels and is typically precipitated by a lung infection, resulting inflammation and loss of O2 tension leads to the sickling of RBCs and further vaso-occlusion. Pulmonary infarction and death may result.
Sickle cell disease
Acute Chest Syndrome
what are the S/S and treatments?
Chest pain, dyspnea, cough, fever, wheezing, hypoxia, pulmonary infiltrates that appear as a total white-out on chest radiography
Because acute chest syndrome may progress to pulmonary failure, provide immediate aggressive treatment with O2, broad spectrum ABx, analgesics, and close monitoring
Sickle cell disease
What are the treatments?
Rehydration with oral and IV fluids
Pain medications
Hydroxyurea (Droxia) is an effective therapy for adult and pediatric patients with SSD. The medications stimulates the production of hemoglobin F, a form of Hgb that does not sickle when deoxygenated.
Sickle cell disease
What are the treatments?
Rehydration with oral and IV fluids
Pain medications
Hydroxyurea (Droxia) is an effective therapy for adult and pediatric patients with SSD. The medications stimulates the production of hemoglobin F, a form of Hgb that does not sickle when deoxygenated.
Leukemia
What is it and how does it produce its affect?
A malignant disorder of the blood and blood forming organs characterized by the excessive, abnormal growth of leukocyte precursors in the bone marrow.
An uncontrolled increase in immature WBCs decreases the production and function of normal WBCs. The bone marrow becomes crowded with these defective cells, which reduces its ability to produce normal precursors to other blood cells, such as erythrocytes and platelets.
Leukemia
What are the 2 classifications? Describe each of them. Are they acute or chronic?
Classified as either Lymphogenous or myelogenous
Lymphogenous - leukemias result from a cancerous growth of lymphoid cells
Myelogenous leukemias result from a cancerous growth of myelogenous cells in the bone marrow.
Both types may be acute or chronic
What is the most common cause of cancer in pediatrics?
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) - although it also occurs in adults, it is the most common type of cancer in children on the US and accounts for 75% of pediatric leukemia cases.
What happens when a patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) has a rise in WBC count over 50K?
When the WBC count rises to more than 50,000, the patient is at risk for leukostasis (WBC clumping or aggregation). Leukostasis primarily affects the brain and lungs, which can participate stroke and pulmonary infarcts, respectively.
This type of leukemia Prevalence increases with age, with the median onset at 70 years, but affects all age groups.
What is it associated with?
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Associated with some genetic disorders such as Downs Syndrome, congenital neutropenia, and Fanconi’s anemia.
It has been associated with radiation exposure and the use of specific medications, such as immunosuppressants and chemotherapeutic agents.
This type of leukemia Prevalence increases with age, with the median onset at 70 years, but affects all age groups.
What is it associated with?
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Associated with some genetic disorders such as Downs Syndrome, congenital neutropenia, and Fanconi’s anemia.
It has been associated with radiation exposure and the use of specific medications, such as immunosuppressants and chemotherapeutic agents.