Inflammation Flashcards
Definition of inflammation
Inflammation is an immunologic defense against tissue injury, infection, or allergy. The body’s reaction to injury, irritation, or infection characterized by redness, swelling, warm, and or pain. Caused by accumulation of immune cells and substances around the injury or infection.
Scope of inflammation
Ranges from no information to active inflammation. May be localized or systemic.
Active inflammation
may be:
Acute as an injury or surgery.
Chronic has an IBS and autoimmune disorders.
Repairing or restorative as an expected healing.
What is the function of the inflammatory response?
The role of acute inflammatory responses to eradicate the harmful stimuli from the body and to initiate repair.
Give an example of a mechanical injury
A rolled injury, crushing, hit by something, a broken bone.
Give an example of a thermal injury
A burn, hypothermia
(SAFETY-decreased sensation in the elderly could cause a thermal injury)
Give me an example of an electrical injury
Electrocution, fork in the outlet, lightning, electric component in water.
Give an example of a chemical injury
Ingesting a chemical like bleach, mixing cleaning agents and breathing it in or on your skin.
Give an example of radiation injury
Sunburn, Chernobyl 
Give an example of a biological injury
Anthrax
Steps in an acute inflammatory response:
-Tissue injury and the release of chemical mediators.
-Vasodilation and increased blood flow.
-Swelling and retraction of activated endothelial cells.
-Increased vascular permeability and leakage of small plasma proteins.
-“Walling Off”
-movement of immune response cells to the site of injury.
-Exudate formation.
-Movement of glucose and oxygen to the site needing repair.
-Release of chemical repair factors from activated endothelial cells.
Steps in a chronic inflammatory response:
-Macrophages release thromboplastin.
-Facilitates hemostasis and promotes fibroblast activity.
-Removes necrotic tissue and foreign pathogen material.
-Healing process is interrupted by re-injury or renewed information and immune system activity.
-maybe sub clinical evidenced by elevated C-reactive protein and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Populations at greatest risk for a severe or ineffective inflammatory response are:
The very young, very old, and uninsured people.
Individual risk factors for inflammation include:
Auto immune disease, allergies, hygiene practices, environmental factors.
Common symptoms and clinical findings that are associated with inflammation include:
Redness, heat, swelling, fever.
(fever with systemic inflammation)
What does R I C E stand for?
Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation
What is the RICE method most helpful for, what does it do, and when is it most beneficial?
It is most helpful after a sprain strain or trauma. It helps minimize swelling. And it’s most beneficial for the first 24 to 48 hours after injury.
Primary prevention for inflammation
Reducing risk for injury and infection. Maintaining good hygiene.
Properly using safety equipment.
Properly storing and preparing food.
What is the best method for applying ice? What should the nurse monitor?
Not directly on the skin.
Skin integrity.
How high is high enough when elevating an extremity?
Above the heart
