kettering section g: pathology Flashcards
Respiratory care for Guillain Barre patient
- Closely monitor Vt, VC, NIF should intubation/mechanical ventilation be indicated
- Oxygen therapy for hypoxemia
- Hyperinflation therapy (IS/SMI, IPPB)
- Pulmonary hygiene
Disease-modifying treatment for Guillian-Barre
- Either plasma exchange or intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)
- Not recommended to do both plasma exchange and IVIG
- Do not use glucocorticoids
(UTD)
What findings would be typical in primary assessment of Guillian-Barre patient?
- Febrile illness in last 1-4 weeks, often viral in nature
- Acute weakness, especially in the legs
- Shallow breathing
- Diminished breath sounds
What findings would be typical in secondary assessment of Guillian-Barre patient?
- PFTs: Decreased Vt, FVC, NIF
- ABG: acute ventilatory failure with hypoxemia; watch for PaCO2 > 45 mmHg
- Lumbar puncture: high protein level in CSF
- Electromyography: abnormal
- Nerve conduction studies: abnormal (Kettering, UTD, CMARD)
What stressors can provoke clinical manifestations of myasthenia gravis?
- Emotional upset
- Physical stress
- Exposure to extreme temperature changes
- Pregnancy
- Febrile illness
What primary assessment findings would be typical for myasthenia gravis exacerbation?
- Gradual onset of weakness
- Previous admissions for MG
- Weakness improves with rest
- Ptosis
- Diplopia
- Dysphagia
- Shallow breathing
- Diminished
What secondary assessment findings would be typical for myasthenia gravis?
- Decreasing Vt, VC, NIF
- Acute ventilatory failure with hypoxemia watch for PaCO2 > 45 mmHg
- Reduced Vt, FVC
What test is given to assess myasthenia gravis?
Tensilon test
How is the tensilon test interpreted?
If Vt, VC, NIF, and weakness improve with Tensilon: Myasthenic crisis.
If Vt, VC, NIF, and weakness worsen with Tensilon: Cholinergic crisis.
Maintenance drugs for myasthenia gravis
Prostigmine (Neostigmine)
Pyridostigmine (Mestinon, Regonol)
What class of drugs is indicated for myasthenia gravis?
anticholinesterase therapy
cholinesterase inhibitors
What medication should be given for myasthenia gravis patient caught in a cholinergic crisis?
Atropine will relieve the symptoms of a cholinergic crisis.
What psychiatric morbidity is common after critical illness?
Depression
Anxiety
Post-traumatic stress disorder
What percentage of ARDS survivors will experience chronic cognitive impairment?
70-78%
What percentage of ICU survivors will experience chronic cognitive impairment?
25-78%
Generally define “cognitive ability.”
The way a person experiences and thinks about the world.
What capacities could be impaired in a person with cognitive impairment?
Intelligence Attention Learning Memory Language Visual/spatial skills
What elements of executive function could be impaired in a patient with cognitive impairment?
Reasoning Decision making Planning Problem solving Working memory Sequencing Control
Define delirium.
An acute behavioral disturbance characterized by
- Acute confusion
- Inattention
- Disorganized thinking
- Fluctuating mental status
Name subtypes of delirium.
- Hypoactive or quiet delirium
- Hyperactive delirium
- -though delirium is dynamic and can fluctuate between hypo- and hyperactive types
Describe hypoactive delirium.
Reduced mental & physical activity
Inattention
Describe hyperactive delerium
Agitation
Combativeness
At risk for self-extubation, pulling lines, falling
Is ICU delirium a permanent state?
Kettering: No, ICU delirium is temporary
The immunosuppression of HIV can lead to what categories of conditions?
- Opportunistic infections (such as pneumonias)
- Secondary neoplasms
- Neurologic manifestations
What opportunistic pulmonary infections can plague people with HIV?
- Pneumocystis carini/jiroveci
- Toxoplasmosis
- Candidiasis (esophageal, tracheal, pulmonary
- Mycobacteriosis (atypical TB)
Name populations at risk for HIV.
- Homosexual/bisexual men
- IV drug abusers
- Recipients of blood transfusion (e.g., patients with hemophilia)
- Imprisoned people
Name the three phases in which systemic immune complex diseases develop.
- Formation of antigen-antibody complexes in circulation.
- Deposition of immune complexes in various tissues.
- Inflammatory reactions in various sites throughout the body.
What results from the 3 phases of systemic immune complex disease development?
Vasoconstriction and edema
What happens during transplant organ rejection?
An immunological reaction causing hypersensitivity response of the host to the donor organ.
How do burns affect the cardiovascular system?
- Increased capillary permeability & fluid loss result in hypovolemia.
- Loss of fluids decreases preload and cardiac output.
- After 24-48 hours, inflammatory mediators influence cardiac contraction and relaxation.
How should the myocardial depression of burn injury be treated?
Fluids
Inotropic agents
What challenges complicate blood pressure monitoring in burn patients?
- Post-burn edema decreases accuracy of cuff blood pressure
* Vasoconstriction from catecholamine release decreases accuracy of arterial blood pressure
Signs and symptoms of cyanide poisoning.
Lethargy Nausea Headache Weakness Coma Decreased Ca-vO2 Severe metabolic acidosis Unresponsiveness to fluids or oxygen ST elevation possible on EKG
Treatment for cyanide poisoning
- 100% oxygen (Kettering)
- Inhaled amyl nitrate pearls Kettering)
- Hydroxocobalamine (Cyanokit)
The asphyxiant gases and hypoxic environments of house fires.
- FiO2 < 0.21
- Carbon monoxide
- Cyanide
Fire environment insults to pulmonary system
Inflammation
Acid-base imbalance
Airway injury
Chest wall constriction
Watch for these pulmonary problems in smoke inhalation
- Transient pulmonary hypertension
- Decreased lung compliance
- Hypoxia
Infections of burn wounds may have what pulmonary consequence?
ARDS
Why might burn injury patients be extubated early?
To avoid VAP and tracheal stenosis.
What percentage of burn patients suffer from smoke inhalation injury?
10-30%
How should upper airway edema in the burn patient be treated?
With standard therapy–
- cool aerosol
- oxygen
- racemic epinephrine
What intervention can be considered for severe inhalation injury?
Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV)
What clinical events common to burn patients might lead to early renal failure?
- -Delayed resuscitation
- -Hypotension
- -Rhabdomyolysis (especially with electrical burns)
What developments in burn patients may lead to late renal failure?
- Sepsis
- Toxic medications
- Pre-existing conditions
Early responses to renal failure in burn patients.
- Fluid resuscitation
- Monitor I/Os
- Monitor lines for sepsis
- Monitor for pneumonia
- Monitor for urinary tract infections
- -Some patient may eventually require dialysis
Measures for GI system in burn patients.
- -Watch for ileus, common in patients with burns > 20% TBSA
- -Start early feeding, oral or enteral
What endocrine system changes can be anticipated in burn patients?
- -Hypothalamus secretes antidiuretic hormone to increase fluid retention
- -Adrenocorticotropic hormones release aldosterone & glucocorticoid cortisol
- -Neurotransmitters adrenaline & noradrenaline released.
Burn patients suffer these hematopoietic system effects relevant to respiratory care.
Decreased RBCs, Hgb, Hct. with resulting decreased oxygen carrying capacity.
Anticipate these alternations to the immune system in burn patients.
- -Risk of infection that rises in direct relation to size of burn
- -Loss of barrier function in burned skin, allowing pathogens passage to the body
Kettering guides to ventilating bariatric patients.
- Key Vt to IBW rather than actual weight
- Set Vts at 6-8 mL/kg IBW for lung protection
- Use PEEP to offset chest weight
(monitor for decreased venous return/cardiac output/BP) - Avoid common problem of pt/ventilator asynchrony (use spontaneous modes of ventilation; PS may be useful)
- Elevate head of bed to prevent aspiration & VAP
- Consider early extubation to NPPV or CPAP
What features, in obese patients, correlate with difficult intubation?
- Large or bull neck
* Mallampati score >= 3
Take these actions if snoring with daytime somnolence and/or apneic periods are observed in obese patient.
- Evaluate with sleep study at discharge
- Provide CPAP or BPAP post-operatively
- Use a simple evaluation tool such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Common risks for obese patients
- Aspiration
- Inadequate ventilation via BVM
- Difficult intubation
- Hypoxemia secondary to apnea
- Atelectasis
- Hemodynamic instability
- DVT and pulmonary embolism
- Post-op respiratory dysfunction
- Delayed recovery from surgery
- Decreased ability to respond to stress (fr HTN to hyperglycemia)
What is the connection between obesity and rhabdomyolysis?
- The two often connected
- Also called “Pressure-induced myoglobinuria”
- Caused by excessive pressure on tissue from body weight
How does one watch for rhabdomyolysis in the obese patient?
- Watch for dark or brown urine
- Watch for acute renal failure
- Monitor CPK
How does one treat rhabdomyolysis in the obese patient?
Treat aggressively with fluids.
What medical conditions are associated with OSA in the obese?
- Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)
- Pickwickian Syndrome
- Compensated respiratory acidosis
- Cor pulmonale
Circulatory conditions common preoperatively in obese patients?
Systemic HTN
Pulmonary HTN
How is “obesity” defined?
BMI >= 30 kg/m2
Supportive treatment for Guillien-Barré:
- Manage initially in the ICU because patients are at risk of neuromuscular respiratory failure and severe autonomic dysfunction.
- Monitor VC and NIF while weakness is progressing should mechanical ventilation be indicated.
- Monitor heart rhythms and blood pressure against development of arrhythmias–sinus tachycardia most common problem.
- Daily auscultation for bowel silence and development of adynamic ileus.
- Manage pain primarily with gabapentin or carbamazepine.
What is apheresis?
The general technique of extracorporeal blood purification whereby one constituent is removed (by centrifugation or membrane filtration) and the remainder is returned to the patient. (LITFL)
What is plasmapheresis?
A subset of apheresis– blood purification technique designed for removal of large molecular weight substances from the plasma; the plasma is removed by centrifigation or membrane filtration and is replaced with “cleaned” autologous plasma or by donor plasma or by another replacement colloid solution (“plasma exchange”). (LITFL)
Considering post-injury resuscitation for orthopedic trauma, what constitutes the acute period?
12-24 hours
Resuscitation goals following orthopedic trauma should be concerned with what principles?
- Optimizing tissue perfusion
- Ensuring normothermia
- Restoring coagulation
What is the goal-directed therapy for post-injury resuscitation in orthopedic trauma?
- Hemoglobin > 10 g/dL
- Cardiac index > 3.8 L/min/m2
- Oxygen delivery DO2 > 500mL/min/m2
- Temperature > 35ºC
- Base excess: ≥ -6
- Normal coagulation indices
Patient recovering from orthopedic trauma has ongoing need for pressers. What condition should the clinician consider?
Adrenal insufficiency.
What areas are most at risk in blunt trauma injuries?
- Liver
- Spleen
- Pancreas
- Mesenteric arteries
How should blunt trauma injuries to abdominal organs be assessed?
With ultrasound and/or peritoneal lavage.
Considerations for abdominal aortic injuries in trauma.
- They present primarily with signs/symptoms of hypotension
- They can be diagnosed with ultrasound
- They may be life-threatening
In instances of facial trauma, what is the highest priority?
Managing the airway
—use chin-lift/jaw thrust to open airway
—prepare for emergent tracheostomy/cricothyrotomy
What conditions in facial trauma indicate intubation?
- Glasgow Coma Scale <9
- Sustained seizure
- Unstable midface trauma
- Direct injury to airway
- Aspiration risk
- Oxygenation problems
What does ORIF stand for?
Open Reduction Internal Fixation
Why does orthopedic trauma require vigilance?
- Missed fractures cause significant morbidity & mortality
- Unrecognized ischemia or compartment syndrome may result in amputation
- Unrecognized ischemia can produce life-threatening rhabdomyolysis and resulting electrolyte imbalance
- Fracture hematoma can cause SIRS and multiple organ failure
How does fat embolism syndrome from long bone fractures present?
Classic triad:
- -hypoxemia (Kettering: ARDS)
- -neurological abnormalities
- -characteristic red-brown petechial rash
Prolonged post-op care for orthopedic trauma may result in what lethal triad that can leave a patient dead in 24 hours?
- Acidosis
- Coagulopathy
- Hypothermia
Kettering’s points for spinal cord injury, respiratory failure, and intubation
- Elect early intubation
- Consider hypoxia and hypercapnea to be late signs of respiratory failure
- Intubate if VC < 10mL/kg
- Intubate if NIF < -20 cmH2O
- Note that NPPV is contraindicated
What are the most common causes of death in patients with spinal cord injury?
- Pneumonia
- Septicemia
- Pulmonary embolism
Two key features of shock due to neurological causes
- Loss of peripheral vasoconstriction
* Loss of cardiac compensation
Treatment for shock due to neurological problems
- Volume resuscitation
- Vasoactive medications: norepinephrine, dopamine, & phenylephrine
- Methylprednisolone within 8 hours of injury for > 23 hours (may increase rate of respiratory complications)
How does Kettering say to clear cervical spine?
- Normal flexion/extension films
* Normal MRI within 48 hours
Secondary injuries from spinal cord injury–those beyond injury from cord compression.
Systemic and vascular insults— • Hypotension • Electrolyte imbalance • Edema • Excitotoxicity
Kettering’s definition of trauma
Any bodily injury caused by any kind of accident—motor vehicle crash, etc.
What circumstances typically give rise to decelerating trauma?
MVC
What are the initial tasks of trauma care?
- Secure airway—assume injury to cervical spine and full stomach
- Support ventilation and oxygenation
- Support circulation and perfusion
- Goal-directed therapy to the end points of C.I., DO2, SvO2
Emergent treatment for tension pneumothorax
- 14-16 gauge IV catheter inserted into 2nd or 3rd intercostal space in the mid-clavicular line
- Follow with chest tube insertion
- Give fluids to maintain cardiac output