Medical Standards Flashcards
For abdo pain (non traumatic), what potential life/limb/function threats shall you consider?
- Aortic aneurism
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Other non-abdo disorders that presents with abdo pain (DKA, pulmonary embolism)
- Perforated or obstructed hollow organs
- Acute pancreatitis
- Testicular torsion
- Pelvic infection
- Strangulated hernia
Under the abdo pain (non traumatic) standard at minimum what should access in the secondary survey?
Pulsations
Scars
Discoloration
Distention
Masses
Guarding
Rigidity
Tenderness
T/F? If abdo aneurism is suspected, we should palpate femoral pulses for weakness/absence?
True
Under the allergic reaction standard, at minimum what shall we assess during the secondary assessment?
- Site of allergic reaction
- Lungs (for adventitious sounds)
- Skin (for erythema, urticaria, and edema)
During an allergic reaction, what potential problems should you prepare for?
Cardiac arrest
Airway obstructions
Anaphylaxis
Bronchospasm
Hypotension
Under the back pain (non traumatic) standard, what potential life/limb/function threats should we consider?
Abdominal/thoracic aortic aneurysm
Acute spinal nerve root compression
Intra-abdominal disease
Possible occult injury
Under the back pain (non traumatic) standard, at a minimum perform a secondary survey to assess…?
Assess the back for abnormal appearances/findings
Chest
Abdomen
Distal pulses
Extremities for PMS
For dysphagia, consider what life/limb/function threats
Anaphylaxis
Upper airway infections
For dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) perform a secondary survey to assess
drooling
Hoarse voice, or cough
Nasal flaring
Swelling or masses
Tracheal deviation
Lungs (for adventitious sounds)
For epistaxis consider what life/limb/function threat?
Upper airway obstruction
During an epistaxis call, what’s an important question to ask?
Are you on blood thinners?
For epistaxis perform a secondary to assess
Estimated blood loss
- Hemorrhage duration
- Rate of flow
- Presence of clots
- Quantity of blood soaked materials
- Quantity of blood vomited
What are some potential life/limb/function threats you should consider for a fever?
Overdose
Sepsis
Meningitis
Heat-related illness
What are the s/s of sepsis
Fever >38.5
Possible infection suspected
SBP <90
Resp. rate over or equal to 22
Reduced LOA
Under the fever standard, perform at a minimum a secondary survey to assess…
Lungs (adventitious sounds)
Skin (jaundice, rash, signs of dehydration)
Head/neck (photophobia, scleral jaundice, stiff neck, headache)
Abdomen
Temperature
What life/limb/functions threats should you consider for a headache
Intercranial/intracerebral events
CNS infection
Severe hypertension
Toxic event/exposure
What s/s can indicate a serious underlying disorder or cause of a headache
- Sudden onset of severe headache with no previous medical history of headache
- Had a headache for days/weeks that suddenly got worse
- Change in pattern of usual headaches
- Headache accompanied by; altered mental status, decreased LOC, neurologic deficits, obvious stiff neck (and other signs of infection), pupillary abnormalities, visual disturbances
Under the heat related illness standard, what potential life/limb/function threat should you consider?
Heat stroke, hypovolemic shock
What are some s/s of heat stroke
Severely altered mental status, coma, seizure, hyperthermia over or equal to 40
For heat related illness, perform a secondary survey to assess what?
CNS
Mouth, for state of dehydration
Skin temp, colour, condition, and state of hydration
Extremities for PMS
Temperature
If heat exhaustion is suspected, what should u do?
Move the patient to the wee woo wagon and remove as much clothing as possible.
If patient is not n/v, give small quantities of fluids
What r s/s of heat exhaustion
mild alterations in mental status
Non specific complaints (headache, n/v, malaise)
Excessive sweating (or hot dry skin in old ppl)
If ur working assessment indicated heat stroke what should u do
Move patient into the wee woo wagon
Remove as much clothing as possible
Withhold oral fluids
Cover the patient with wet sheets
Apply cold packs to the axilla, groin, neck, and head
Under the hematemesis standard, what are some potential life/limb/function threats
Esophageal varices
GI diseases
Under the n/v standard what life/limb/function threats should u consider
Acute coronary syndrome/acute MI
Anaphylaxis
Increases intracranial pressure
Toxicological emergencies
Bowel obstructions
Infection
Acute pancreatitis
Intra-abdominal emergencies
Uremia
In a toxicological emergency, what should u attempt to identify?
Quantity
Route
Time
Substance
In toxicological emergency what potential problems should u prepare for?
Cardiac arrest
Airway obstruction
Respiratory arrest or distress
Altered LOC
Sudden violent behavior
Hyperthermia
Seizures
Emesis
What should you do if a patient is in active seizure
Attempt to position in recovery position
Attempt to protect the patient from injury
Observe for; eye deviation, incontinence, parts of body affected, type of seizure
With seizure calls, perform a secondary survey to assess what seizure related occurrences
Bleeding from the mouth
Incontinence
Secondary injuries resulting from the seizure
Tongue injury
For seizure, prepare for what potential problems
airway compromise
Recurrent seizure
Post-ictal combativeness or agitation
Under the chest pain standard, what life/limb/function threats should u consider
Acute coronary syndrome, acute MI
Dissecting thoracic aorta
Pneumothorax, tension pneumo…
Pulmonary embolism
Pericarditis
For chest pain, what should you assess during your secondary survey
Chest; subcutaneous emphysema, accessory muscle use, urticaria, indrawing, shape, symmetry, tenderness
Lung; decreased air entry, adventitious sounds
Abdomen
Neck; tracheal position, JVD
Extremities; peripheral edema
Consider what life/limb/function threats under the vaginal bleeding emergency standard
In post-menopausal women; tumours
First trimester complications;
- spontaneous abortion
- ectopic pregnancy
- gestational trophoblastic disease
Second and third semester complication;
- spontaneous abortion
- Placental abruption
- Placental previa
- Ruptured uterus
ml
For vaginal bleeding, asses the bleeding for what?
Blood loss
Fetal parts
Other tissues
Presence of clots
According to the BLS, anaphylaxis can affects what 5 body systems?
Respiratory (dyspnea, wheezing, stridor)
Cardiovascular (tachycardia, hypotension/shock)
Neurological (dizziness, confusion, loss of consciousness)
GI (n/v, abdo cramps)
Integumentary/mucosal (swelling, flushing, urticaria)
Under the BLS Chest pain standard, what life/limb/function threats should you consider?
- Acute coronary syndrome/ acute MI
- Dissecting thoracic aorta
- Pneumothorax/tension pneumo
- Respiratory disorders (pneumonia…)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Pericarditis
Under the chest pain standard, what should you access during your secondary survey
- Chest for; subcutaneous emphysema, accessory muscle use, urticaria, indrawing, shape, symmetry, and tenderness
- Lungs by auscultation
- Abdomen
- Neck for tracheal position and JVD
- Extremities for edema
Under the headache standard what should you access during your secondary survey?
- Head/neck, PEARL
- CNS for abnormal motor function and sensory loss
Under the seizure standard what potential life/limb/function threats and/or disorders should you consider?
- Intercranial event
- Hypoglycemia
- Eclampsia
- In pts equal to or over 50 yrs old; brain tumour, cardiac dysrhythmias, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, severe hypertension
- In neonates; traumatic delivery, congenital disorders, prematurity, hypoglycemia
- Febrile seizure
- Infection (CNS infection, meningitis)
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Drug ingestion/withdrawal
- known seizure disorder
What potential problems should you prepare for under the seizure standard
Airway compromise
Recurrent seizures
Post-ictal combativeness
Under the SOB BLS standard, what potential life/limb/function threats should you consider?
- Acute respiratory disorders (Partial airway obstruction, Asthma, Anaphylaxis, Aspiration, Inhalation of toxic gases/smoke, Pneumothorax, COPD, Respiratory infections)
- Acute cardiovascular disorders (STEMI, CHF, Pulmonary edema, Pulmonary embolism)
- Other causes; cerebrovascular accident, toxicological effects, metabolic acidosis
Under the SOB standard at a minimum what should you asses in your secondary
- Chest
- Head/neck; cyanosis, nasal flaring, excessive drooling, tracheal deviation, JVD
- Extremities; cyanosis, edema
Under the syncope/dizziness/vertigo standard, consider what potential life/limb/function threats?
Hypoglycemia
Cardiac Dysrhythmias
CVA/TIA
Hypovolemia
Toxicological effects
Heat-related illness
Anemia
Renal failure
Sepsis
Under the syncope/dizziness/vertigo standard, what potential problems should you prepare for?
Cardiac dysrhythmias
Hypotension
Seizure
Decreased LOC
Under the toxicological emergency standard, carbon monoxide poisoning can be recognized by what symptoms/signs?
Altered mental status
Cardiac dysrhythmias
Emesis
Headache
Light-headed
Nausea
Seizures
Syncope
Weakness
VSA
Under the vaginal bleeding standard, what potential life/limb/function threats should you consider?
- In post-menopausal women; tumours
- First trimester complications (spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy, gestational trophoblastic disease)
- Second and third trimester complications (spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, placenta previa, ruptured uterus)
