MEDICAL EMERGENCIES Flashcards
What are Medical emergencies?
Any situation in which the condition or status of a patient suddenly changes requiring immediate medical attention.
What will be the role of a Radiographer in Medical emergencies?
The radiographer must be able to identify medical emergencies and respond to them accordingly.
If in any Emergency situations how would a radiographer respond to emergency priority?
Radiographers should call for assistance as quickly as possible when responding to a medical emergency.
What are some of these Priorities of the radiographer in medical emergencies?
Priorities: (should be done in order starting with #1)
1. Ensure an open airway
2. Control bleeding
3. Prevent or treat shock
4. Attend to wounds and/or fractures
5. Provide emotional support
5. Re-evaluate and follow up as appropriate
What must the Radiographer know about Emergency carts, AKA CRASH CARTS?
- You must know where the department crash cart is located.
-Become familiar with the crash cart contents and their locations.
-A wheeled container of equipment and drugs needed to handle typical life-threatening emergencies.
What items or contents can be found in the CRASH CART?
-Equipment (i.e. Ambu bag, tourniquet, ET tubes, gloves, stethoscope, suction catheters, syringes, needles, trach tubes)
alcohol pads
-Drugs (i.e. Benadryl, Epinephrine, Dilantin, Levophed, Atropine, Decadron, Lasix)
-Solutions (i.e. Alcohol, Saline)
Common Emergency drugs found on an Emergency Crash cart?
Adenocard–Arrhythmias
Atropine—Bradycardia
Benadryl—Allergic Reaction
Cordarone—Arrhythmias
Decadron—Allergic Reaction
Dilantin—Seizures
Dobutrex—Shock
Epinephrine (Adrenalin)—Cardiac Arrest, Anaphylaxis
Heparin—-Anticoagulant
Intropin—-Shock
Isoptin—-Arrhythmias
Lasix—-Edema
Levoped—Shock
Pronestyl—-Arrhythmias
Sodium Bicarbonate—Metabolic Acidosis
Xylocaine- Arrhythmias
What are some Radiology EMERGENCIES?
-Shock
-Anaphylaxis
-Pulmonary embolus
-Diabetic reactions
-Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
-Cardiac and respiratory failure
-Syncope
-Seizures
Why is it important for a radiographer to understand the basic assessment of patients with head injuries during radiographic examinations?
The radiographer must understand that basic assessment of patients with head injuries so that they may respond to changes in the patient’s condition during radiographic examinations
What is the simplest method to evaluate the extent of a head injury in a patient?
The simplest way to check the extent of a head injury is to check the level of consciousness of the patient.
When a patient gets a HEAD INJURIE, how soon after do clinical symptoms manifest?
Clinical symptoms may not manifest right away.
What are some symptoms of HEAD INJURIES?
Hematoma
Brain swelling
Which modality is the preferred modality for assessing head injuries?
CT ( COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY)
CT is particularly valuable for identifying conditions such as hematomas, brain swelling, fractures, and other structural changes.
WHAT ARE SOME LEVELS OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS?
-ALERT & CONSCISOUNESS
-DROWSY
-UNCONSCIOUS BUT REACTS TO PAINFUL STIMULI
-COMATOSE
-LETHARGY
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A PATIENT IS “ALERT & CONSCIOUS” ?
The patient can respond to questions and other stimuli.
How severe is being ALERT AND CONSCIOUS?
IT IS THE LEAST SEVERE OUT OF ALL THE LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS
How do you know when a patient is DROWSY?
the patient is drowsy but can respond when spoken to loudly or touched with gentle physical contact.
How do you know when a patient reacts to painful stimuli when unconscious?
The patent is unconscious but reacts to painful stimuli – the patient will not usually respond to voices but will respond to painful pinpricks and pinches.
What is COMATOSE?
the patient does not respond to any stimuli.
What is LETHARGY?
IT IS THE abnormal drowsiness, stupor (a state of mental numbness).
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE SHOULD KNOW OUR PATIENTS?
WE SHOULD FIRST
-Assess the patient at the beginning of the procedure.
-Note signs of deterioration from one level of consciousness to another
-Deteriorating head injury
What is GLASGOW COMA SCALE?
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a scale that is used to assess the severity of a brain injury.
What Values does the Glasgow coma scale consists?
3 to 15
How are the values obtained?
The scale consists of values from 3 to 15 obtained by adding the ratings assigned to three variables of how the patient responds to certain stimuli.
What are the 3 types of stimuli from Glasgow Coma scale?
- Opening the eyes
- Giving a verbal response
- Giving a motor response (reflex after a physical stimulus i.e. Pinprick)
WHAT ARE THE 3 GLASGOW COMA SCALE SCORES?
-SEVERE- 8
-MODERATE- 9-12
-MILD-13-15
WHAT WOULD THE SCORE BE FOR “SEVERE”?
-A”SEVERE” SCORE WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LOW SCORE- BELOW 8
A SEVERE SCORE INDICATES POOR CHANCE OF RECOVERY
WHAT WOULD THE SCORE BE FOR MODERATE?
A MEDIAN SCORE( BETWEEN 9-12)
WHAT WOULD THE SCORE BE FOR MILD?
MILD WOULD BE A HIGH SCORE OF 13-15
-INDICATES A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF FULL RECOVERY
What are the Signs of Deteriorating Head Injuries?
-SUDDEN IRRITABILITY
-LETHARGY
-SLOWING PULSE RATE
-SLOWING RESPIRATORY RATE
-Change in level of consciousness (LOC)
HOW WOULD RADIOGRAPHERS RESPOND TO “Deteriorating Head Injuries”?
1.MAINTAIN
2. STOP
3.MONITER
FIRST STEP HOW WOULD YOU MAINTAIN?
Firstly, maintain an open airway and move the patient as little as possible.
NEXT, WHAT WOULD YOU STOP?
Stop the radiographic procedure and get medical assistance.
WHAT WOULD WE MONITOR FOR THE PATIENT?
Maintain the patients Vital Signs
What is a SHOCK?
A SHOCK Is a failure of the circulating system to support vital body functions
What are the 3 stages of SHOCK?
-COMPENSATORY STAGE- STAGE 1
-PROGRESSIVE STAGE- STAGE 2
-IRREVERSIBLE STAGE- STAGE 3
What are some SIGNS OF Compensatory stage ?
- COLD, CLAMMY SKIN
-DECREASED URINE OUTPUT
-INCREASED RESPIRATION
-Hypoactive bowel sounds
-Normal BP
-Increased anxiety level of patient
-
What are some SIGNS OF the Progressive stage ?
BP falls
Respirations are rapid and shallow
Severe pulmonary edema
Tachycardia
Patient complains of chest pain
Confused mental state
Problems occur with kidneys, liver, bowel, and spleen
What are some SIGNS OF the IRREVERSIBLE stage ?
BP remains low
Renal and liver failure occur
Release of necrotic tissue toxins
Overwhelming lactic acidosis
What are 6 types of SHOCK?
Hypovolemic shock
Septic shock
Cardiogenic shock
Neurogenic shock
Vasogenic shock
Anaphylactic shock
What is a HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK?
Abnormally low volume of circulating blood throughout the body.
May be due to internal (bleeding of the GI tract or other internal bleeding) or external bleeding (from cuts or injury).
Immediate response – stop bleeding if possible
What is a CARDIOGENIC SHOCK?
Failure of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood to vital organs.
Cardiogenic shock is a disease state where the heart is damaged enough that it is unable to supply sufficient blood to the body.
What is a Vasogenic Shock?
Shock means inadequate tissue perfusion by oxygen-carrying blood. In vasogenic shock, this circulatory failure results from vasodilation and/or vasoplegia.
The three subtypes are septic, neurogenic shock, and Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid.
Due to sepsis, deep anesthesia, or anaphylaxis.
What is a SEPTIC SHOCK?
Severe systemic infection, a consequence of poor practice of medical and surgical asepsis.
Septic shock is a serious, abnormal condition that occurs when an overwhelming infection leads to low blood pressure and low blood flow. Vital organs, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver may not function properly or may fail.
What is a Neurogenic shock?
Shock results from damaged nerve tissue.
May be the result of a spinal cord injury, severe pain, neurological damage, extreme psychological stress, or the effects of spinal anesthesia.
What is an Anaphylactic Shock (ALLERGIC SHOCK) ?
Is a type of vasogenic shock encountered when patients have a severe allergic reaction. (In radiology, anaphylactic shock may be due to an iodinated contrast media).
What can the reactions be like for Anaphylactic shock?
Reactions can be mild to severe.
What are Mild reactions treated with, what medications?
Mild reactions are treated with an antihistamine (ALLERGY DRUG MEDICATION)
What type of Body temperature may the Anaphylactic shock have?
Stabilize body temperature
What severe Reaction can happen after Anaphlactic shock that will REQUIRE CPR?
Severe reactions such as cardiac arrest require CPR.
What is Anaphylaxis?
condition of shock that is the result of a severe allergic reaction
A symptom of ANAPHYLAXIS (ALLERGIC REACTION)
IS URTICARIA- WHICH ARE HIVES
Difference between ANAPHYLAXIS VS ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK
Anaphylaxis is the allergic reaction, while anaphylactic shock is the severe outcome of that reaction when circulatory collapse occurs.
What are some symptoms of Shock?
-Anxiety or agitation
-Confusion
-Pale, cool clammy skin]
-low or no urine output
-bluish lips or fingernails
-Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
-Profuse sweating, moist skin
-Rapid but weak pulse
-Shallow Breathing with increased Inspirations
- Chest pain
- Unconsciousness
How can we prevent a shock?
-MAINTAIN NORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE
-AVOID OVERHEATING
-MINIMIZE THE PATIENTS STRESS, PAIN AND ANXIETY
A DIABETIC CRIS CAN BE?
DIABETES (DIABETES MELLITUS)
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disease involving a disorder of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism which affects the structure and function of the blood vessels or other organs of the body.
What type of disorder is DIABETES?
Diabetes is a disorder of insulin availability.
Where is Insulin produced?
Insulin is produced by the pancreas
What does Insulin control?
Controls blood sugar
What are the 3 types of Diabetes?
- TYPE I- INSULIN DEPENDENT
-TYPE II- NON- INSULIN DEPENDENT - GESTATIONAL DIABETES-DEVELOPS DURING PREGNANCY
What is Type I DIABETES?
TYPE I IS INSULIN DEPENDENT