ICU and critical care Flashcards
How is the level of care (hence what bed they get given) a patient needs determined?
Given a level from 0-3
Who are level 0 pts. and what care do they require? What is level 0 care?
Ward based care IV infusion and b.d ops
normal ward
Who are level 1 pts. and what care do they require? What is level 1 care?
Pts. at risk of their conditions deteriorating
additional clinical input (eg. continuous O2, chest drains)
4 hourly jobs
4 hourly GCS
Require higher levels of care (need critical care team advice and support)
Who are level 2 pts. and what care do they require? What is level 2 care?
Its needed pre-operative optimisation or extended post-operative care (eg. major elective surgery or emergency operations in high-risk individuals)
pts requiring single organ support:
Basic resp support: eg. O2>50%, CPAP or BIPAP
Basic cardio support: CVP monitoring or one vasoactive drug infusion
Advanced cardio support: multiple vasoactive drug use, cardiac output monitoring
Renal support: renal replacement therapy
Neurological support: ICP monitoring
Dermatological support: major burns
Pt may be suitable for HDU - pts requiring more detailed observations/intervention, single organ system failure, (post-operative care) hourly obs (for early detection of potential deterioration)
Who are level 3 pts. and what care do they require? What is level 3 care?
Pts requiring advanced resp. support alone
OR
support of at least 2 other organ systems. - one or more organ failures
ICU
If pt. has NEWS on 1-4, how often do they need obs?
minimum of 4 hourly
If pt. has NEWS of 0, how often do they need obs?
minimum of 12 hourly
If pt. has NEWS of 5 -7
OR
3 in one parameter, how often do they need obs?
Minimum of 2 hourly (for at least 6 hours)
also: need URGENT review by medical/surgical team, strict hourly fluid balance
If pt. has NEWS of 7 or more, how often do they need observations?
minimum of hourly (for at least 6 hours)
registrar must be informed AND critical care outreach team, transfer to level 2 or 3 facility
With a critically unwell pt., what kinds of things can you ask nurses to do?
Observations (as regularly as NEWS requires)
Fluid balance chart
?catheter
Oxygen therapy
What is SIRS and what are the criteria?
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome
2 or more signs of inflammation: T >38 or <36 HR >90 WCC>12 or <4 RR>20 Altered conscious level BM >7.7 (if not diabetic)
If patient is neutropenic then just 1 of the above
What are the red flags of sepsis?
SBO <90mmHg despite fluid chart Lactate >2 mol/L Heart rate >130/min RR > 25/min O2 sats <91% Response to voice/pain OR unresponsive purpuric rash
What pts. can to be sent to ICU?
Pts. requiring level 3 care
(one or more organ failures or need for mechanical ventilation)
Pts poor clinical condition must be potentially reversible
Pt who’s long-term health and co-morbidity mean that they are likely to survive AND BENEFIT from critical care
explicit or reasonably assume pt. consent
Some admissions are pre-planed following major surgery
What is the aim of intensive care?
Early recognition of deterioration
Ability to keep pts. alive longer (by organ support) so underlying cause can be treated
What are 3 exceptions to single organ failure that move pts. from level 2 to level 3?
Resp. failure on ventilation
Kidney failure (on particular treatment)
Sleep apnoea on inotropes
What happens on ICU?
Close physiological control (constant monitoring)
Specific therapy (relevant to disease)
Infusion of vasoactive drugs (vasopressors, inotropes)
Mechanical organ support (renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal oxygenation)
Define shock
Shock is a state of circulatory failure characterised by tissue perfusion that is inadequate to meet the needs of the body
What are two main common causes of obstructive shock?
PE embolus (saddle embolus) Tension pneumothorax
What are some causes of cardiogenic shock
Cardiac failure MI (causing arrhythmias) pulmonary oedema (obstruction to blood flow) complete heart block valvular defects
What are some causes of neurogenic shock?
spinal cord transection (if see pt. with bradycardia following trauma, worry about this)
Why do you get low blood pressure in septic shock?
Vasodilation due to release of cytokines
Toxins from infection also cause vasodilation
What’s the difference between pt. with cariogenic and septic shock?
Hyperfebrile in septic shock
pt with cariogenic shock will have cold peripheries and be sweaty/clammy
What can cause cariogenic shock and low-grade pyrexia?
PE/DVT
Endocarditis
Which receptors does adrenaline work on ( in high doses) in anaphylaxis? How does this help?
alpha receptors - cause vasoconstriction