medical emergencies

Question 1

what is a medical emergency

Answer 1

A situation in which a sudden change in a patient’s
medical/physiological status requires immediate
intervention

Question 2

what is an MRTs role in a medical emergency

Answer 2

• Preserving life.
• Avoid further harm to the patient.
• Obtain appropriate medical assistance as soon as possible.

Question 3

what does it mean to establish a baseline?

Answer 3

assessing behaviours that determine a pts level of neurologic and cognitive function prior to starting a procedure

Question 4

what is the first step in an emergency

Answer 4

alert the emergency response team
note time & loco

Question 5

what is the second steps in emercengies

Answer 5

locate the crash cart
oxygen administration and fluid management equipment

Question 6

what (in dep) can cause a pulmonary embolism

Answer 6

air introduced via IV

Question 7

what (in dep) can cause syncope

Answer 7

vasovagal reaction
hypoglycemic event

Question 8

what (in dep) can cause seizures

Answer 8

reactions to medication

Question 9

what is assessed in a neurological assessment

Answer 9

LOC
pupillary response
limb movement/strength
vital signs

Question 10

When may a neurologic assessment not be effective?

Answer 10

when a pt is unconscious or heavily sedated, in extreme pain, has cognitive impairments

Question 11

what are 4 pain assessment methods using central stimulus (places)

Answer 11

trapezius sqeuueze
supraorbital pressure
mandibular pressure
sternal rub

Question 12

how to perform a trapezius squeeze

Answer 12

twist and gradually apply pressure for 10-20 seconds, to elicit a response

Question 13

how to perform supraorbital pressure

Answer 13

flat of the thumb on the supraorbital ridge, gradually applying pressure for 10-20 seconds

Question 14

what is a peripheral stimulus methid

Answer 14

nailed squeeze

Question 15

what is the Glasgow coma scale

Answer 15

• Standardized tool used for the assessment of neurologic & cognitive functioning.
• Points based, rapid neurologic assessment tool.

Question 16

what 3 areas are assessed using the Glasgow coma scale

Answer 16

eye opening response
verbal response
motor response

Question 17

what is the min and max for points on the Glasgow coma scale

Answer 17

3, up to 15

Question 18

how many points are possible in each area on the Glasgow coma scale

Answer 18

eye opening - 4
verbal - 5
motor - 6

Question 19

what are the 2 types of abnormal extension to pain

Answer 19

decerebrate posturing
decorticate posturing

Question 20

decerebrate positioning is an indication of what

Answer 20

damage to the upper brain stem

Question 21

decorticate position is an indication of what

Answer 21

damage to one or more corticospinal tracts

Question 22

what are 3 different presentations of neurological spine injuries

Answer 22

• numbness (pins and needles)
• pain
• paralysis

Question 23

how do we modify exams for pts with spinal injuries

Answer 23

angle tube instead of moving pt

Question 24

how do we transfer for pts with spinal injuries

Answer 24

use spinal cord precautions
use a transfer board

Question 25

what do we do if a Neuro spine injury pt starts to vomit

Answer 25

log roll to prevent aspiration of vomit

Question 26

what is an open head injury

Answer 26

Open injury involves an interruption in the bone or meninges – open to infection

Question 27

what is a close head injury

Answer 27

Closed injury - result of blunt trauma – cause hemorrhage, which results in swelling, and increased pressure within the cranium

Question 28

what are 2 CT signs of a closed head injury

Answer 28

hyper density (indicating a bleed) midline shift (due to mass effect

Question 29

what is a battle's sign

Answer 29

Battle's sign is bruising behind the ear that indicates a skull fracture, usually caused by head trauma

Question 30

what are 5 presentations of a head injury

Answer 30

headache lethargy irritability confusion vomiting

Question 31

how do you protect a patient who is seizing

Answer 31

* Stay with patient and gently secure them to prevent injury. * Use pillows or sponges and raise side rails of bed. Do not restrain! * do not insert anything into mouth * Observe how it starts, and how long it lasts

Question 32

what does CVA stand for

Answer 32

cerebrovascular accidents

Question 33

what are 3 CVAs

Answer 33

strokes occlusion (ischemic) rupture (hemorrhagic) of supplying artery

Question 34

how do you respond to a stroke

Answer 34

stop immediately initiate a CODE call for help

Question 35

fibrinolytic therapy can be used for what type of stroke ONLY

Answer 35

thrombolytic or ischemic

Question 36

what is the response to respiratory arrest

Answer 36

place pt supine initiate a code grab a crash cart start CPR if no pulse

Question 37

what are the 3 stages of shock

Answer 37

1. compensatory stage 2. progressive stage 3. irreversible stage

Question 38

what happens during the compensatory stage of shock

Answer 38

blood shunted away from organs, to heart and brain

Question 39

what happens during the progressive stage of shock

Answer 39

- arterial pressure drops - all body systems are perfused, causing ischemia and necrosis - renal, liver, GI failure tachycardia - change in mental status

Question 40

what happens during the irreversible stage of shock

Answer 40

- irreparable dorgan damage - low BP - renal and liver failure - necrotic tissue toxin release, overhwelming lactic acidosis

Question 41

what are the 3 types of shock

Answer 41

hypovolemic cardiogenic distributive

Question 42

what are the 3 types of distributive shock

Answer 42

neurogenic septic anaphylactic

Question 43

what is hypovolemic shock

Answer 43

loss of 15% or more IV fluid

Question 44

what causes hypovolemic shock

Answer 44

int/ext hemorrhage burns severe dehydration medications

Question 45

what are the symptoms of hypovolemic shock

Answer 45

excessive thirst cold extremities, clammy cyanosis elevated HR, dec BP

Question 46

what is cardiogenic shock

Answer 46

failure of heart to pump adequate blood to organs

Question 47

what causes cardiogenic shock

Answer 47

myocardial infarction arrhythmias obstruction (PE, stenosis, tumours etc)

Question 48

what is distributive shock

Answer 48

blood vessel’s inability to constrict (loss of vasal tone) resultant inability to return blood to the heart causes perpheral blood pooling

Question 49

what causes neurogenic distributive shock

Answer 49

spinal cord injurysevere pain diabetic shock

Question 50

what causes septic shcok

Answer 50

systemic infection

Question 51

what is diabetes mellitus

Answer 51

group of metabolic diseases resulting from chronic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism

Question 52

what are the classic diabetes symptoms

Answer 52

polydipsia polyphagia polyuria

Question 53

what can type 1 diabetics experience

Answer 53

DKA diabetic ketoacidosis

Question 54

what can type 2 diabetics experience

Answer 54

HHNS hyperosmolar hyperglycemia nonketonic syndrome

Question 55

aphasia

Answer 55

inability to speak

Question 56

diaphoresis

Answer 56

excessive sweating

Question 57

dysphasia

Answer 57

slurred speech

Question 58

dyspnea

Answer 58

difficulty breathing

Question 59

dysphagia

Answer 59

difficulty swallowing

Question 60

polydipisia

Answer 60

inc thirst

Question 61

polyphagia

Answer 61

inc hunger