Medical Week Review Flashcards
AVPU
A- Alert
V- Verbal
P- Pain
U- Unresponsive/Unconscious
DCAP-BTLS
D-Deformities C-Contusions A-Abrasions P-Punctures/Penetrations B-Burns T-Tenderness L-Lacerations S-Swelling
When should DCAP-BTLS used?
For trauma assessments
Supine
Lying on back
Prone
Lying on face
Recumbent
Lying on side
Fowler’s Position
45-60 degree sitting position
Semi-Fowler’s
30-45 degree sitting position
Where do you asses following pulses (Carotid, Radial, Femoral)?
Carotid: Neck, on either side of wind pipe
Radial: Wrists, just proximal to the thumb
Femoral: Inside thigh, groin area
Define Systolic Pressure
Pressure on artery walls when heart contracts.
Define diastolic pressure
Pressure on artery walls when heart relaxes.
What is the name of the major artery that begins at the heart and supplies blood to the rest of the body?
The Aorta
What are the small blood vessels that connect arterioles and venules and exchange oxygen and food for CO2 and waste?
Capillaries
What vessel receive blood from the pulmonary vein and pumps O2-rich blood to the left ventricle?
L Atrium
What part of the heart pumps blood to the lungs?
R Ventricle
What is the purpose of the veins throughout the body?
Return blood back to the heart.
What vessels receive blood from the body and precede to the R atrium?
Superior/Inferior Vena Cava
What vessel carries O2-rich blood from the lungs to the L atrium?
Pulmonary Vein
What is an artery?
Muscular blood vessel that can dilate and constrict.
What pumps blood to the body via the aortic valve and aorta?
L Ventricle
What are arterioles?
Blood vessels that are smaller than arteries and bigger than capillaries.
Which heart chamber pumps blood to the body?
L Ventricle
What is perfusion?
Adequate circulation of O2 providing to cells.
What is hypoperfusion?
Inadequate circulation of O2.
What is the main purpose of the respiratory system?
Gas exchange
What are the two main branches that the trachea divides into called?
Bronchi
What is the leaf-shaped structure that prevents ingested materials from entering the airway tract?
Epiglottis
Largest human organ?
Skin
What skull part encloses the brain?
Crainum
Why do many victims of elderly abuse avoid reporting it?
Fear of retaliation
Define Pneumonia
Infection/inflammation of the lung caused by bacteria or viruses.
W0hiy are geriatrics at risk for hypothermia?
Loss of thermoregulation
What sign in a heart related event signifies an emergency?
Hot, dry skin
The main priority in a near-drowning is…:
Provide O2 via ventilation.
The body generates heat through…
Movement and shivering
An early sign of hypothermia is…
Tachycardia, tachypnea, confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, and sleepiness.
The body cools itself through:
Sweating, blood vessel dilation, evaporative cooling.
The body loses or gains heat to nearby objects without physically touching them through:
Radiation:
Define dyspnea:
Shortness of breath (outside normal).
Acute constriction of lower airways causes which respiratory condition?
Asthma
COPD patients often sit in what position to help with breathing?
Tripod
For a cyanotic patient with shallow, snoring respirations you should?
Reposition the airway
What is the best course of treatment for a congestive heart failure patient with respiratory distress and pulmonary edema?
CPAP
What causes meconium during labor?
Fetal distress
What is the best course of treatment for meconium staining?
Suction the mouth and nose.
What is the best position for an obviously pregnant patient?
L Lateral Recumbent
What does APGAR mean?
A- Appearance P- Pulse G- Grimace A- Activity/Muscle Tone R- Respiration
What is APGAR used for?
It is used to assess a newborn in order to help bring the baby along.
What is the best way to stimulate breathing effort in a newborn?
Stimulate soles of feet/rub back.
What is the advantage of suctioning the mouth of a neonate before suctioning the nose?
Remove potential of aspiration
What steps are taken during neonatal resuscitation?
Keep warm, suction, ventilations, if HR <60 CPR
What sign is an indication of imminent delivery?
Crowning
What female organ contains the unborn baby?
Uterus
How many stages of labor are there?
3
What happens in each stage of labor?
1-Starts with contractions, ends with dilation of cervix.
2-Starts with fetus entering birth canal, ends with delivery.
3-Starts with newborn delivery, ends with delivery of placenta (collect and bring to ER).
What indicates a breech delivery?
Anything but the head coming first (butt, arm, leg)
Uterine contractions about 10 minutes after delivery indicate…?
Another baby is coming.
How many mL of blood is normal for a mom to lose during delivery?
500-1000 mL
For an infant (<1 y/o) with a foreign body obstruction, what is the first treatment?
5 back blows.
Sunken fontanelles in an infant typically indicate?
Sign of dehydration
Seal-barking type cough in a ped pt is typically a sign of?
Croup
A ped pt found sitting up, drooling, with difficulty swallowing, fever, and respiratory distress is probably experiencing?
Epiglottits
An infant with bulging fontanelles, fever, rash and neck tenderness is probably experiencing?
Meningitis
What type of injury do you suspect from a victim of shaken baby syndrome?
Head Injuries
In suspected sexual abuse, what should be done to preserve evidence?
Don’t mess with evidence. Keep pt in their clothes if at all possible
What causes a febrile seizure?
Sudden elevation of temperature
What is the typical reason for cardiac arrest in ped pts?
Progressive Respiratory Failure
What is the typical reason for shock in ped pts?
Vomitting/Diarrhea (dehydration)
What causes SIDS?
Unknown
What is the purpose of the valves between the heart chambers, the pulmonary artery, and the aorta?
Valves in Heart: Valves between chambers prevent backflow of blood.
Pulmonary Artery: Carry oxygenated blood from R ventricle to lungs for gas exchange.
Aorta: Carries oxygenated blood from the L ventricle to the systemic circuit.
What is the purpose of the coronary arteries and how do they receive oxygenated blood?
The coronary arteries supply the myocardium with blood/nutrients. They receive blood via the aorta as the blood backflows through the aortic arch during diastole.
What is the medical wording for a heart attack?
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)
What is the primary function of white blood cells?
Fight off infection
Medical term for stroke?
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
Neurological deficits include?
Vision changes, slurred speech, weakness, altered mental status, coma
Signs and symptoms of a stroke include?
Sudden/sever headache, numbness/tingling, dizziness/confusion
Define a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
Stroke symptoms that go away within 24 hours.
Define paradoxical chest motion?
See-saw motion. Part of chest wall moves in a direction opposite to the rest.
How can one estimate the severity of injuries sustained form a fall?
Height of the fall.
What is the priority in multi-systems trauma?
Rapid transport
Blood or clear fluid coming from the ear is a sign of:
Head injury (open)
What is a complication of a laceration to the neck?
Air embolism
Primary treatment for a sucking chest wound?
Occlusive dressing over wound
Define pneumothorax
Air in the chest cavity.
Implied Consent
Pt is unable to express that they need help (altered, minors without legal guardian).
Expressed Consent
Pt of legal age, making rational decisions, and asking for treatment and transport.
Mandatory Reporting
State/Local laws that require us to report signs of child, spousal, or elder abuse.
Scope of Practice
Ethical responsibilities in legal duties to the Medical Director, the patient, and the public.
BE FAST Assessment
B- Balance (Sudden loss of balance?)
E- Eyes (Vision loss/disturbances in one or both eyes?_
F- Face (Smile! Does one side droop?)j
A- Arm (Hold both arms up. Does on drift?)
S- Speech (Slurred speech or difficulty speaking?)
T- Time (Document time last seen normal and time symptoms started)
Normal capnography?
35-45
