Part 7 Flashcards
What are Calcium Channel Blockers?
Medications that prevent calcium from entering cells of the heart and blood vessel walls
They help lower blood pressure and reduce heart workload.
What is Calcium Gluconate used for?
Treatment for hypocalcemia and certain types of hyperkalemia
It is also used in cases of hydrofluoric acid exposure.
What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)?
A colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon-containing fuels
It can cause asphyxiation and poisoning.
What is the purpose of a Hyperbaric Chamber?
To provide high-pressure oxygen therapy
It is beneficial in treating carbon monoxide poisoning and decompression sickness.
What are Benzodiazepines?
A class of medications that act as central nervous system depressants
They are commonly used for anxiety, seizures, and insomnia.
What is Coumadin (Warfarin)?
An anticoagulant medication used to prevent blood clots
It works by inhibiting vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
What role does Vitamin K play in the body?
Essential for the synthesis of proteins required for blood coagulation
It is crucial in preventing excessive bleeding.
What are Crotalinae (Pit Vipers)?
A subfamily of venomous snakes known for their heat-sensing pits
Their bites can cause significant tissue damage.
What is CroFab?
A specific antivenom for pit viper bites
It is derived from ovine (sheep) antibodies.
What is the treatment for Cyanide poisoning?
Amyl Nitrate, Sodium Thiosulfate, and Sodium Nitrite
These agents help detoxify cyanide and facilitate its excretion.
What is the function of Sodium Thiosulfate?
It acts as a cyanide antidote
It converts cyanide to thiocyanate, which is less toxic.
What is Digitalis used for?
To treat heart conditions, particularly atrial fibrillation and heart failure
It increases the force of heart contractions.
What is Digibind?
An antidote for digoxin toxicity
It binds to digoxin and helps remove it from the body.
What is Dilantin?
A medication used to control seizures
Its active ingredient is phenytoin.
What does supportive care involve?
Management of symptoms and comfort without specific treatment
It is often crucial in emergency and critical care settings.
What is Ethylene Glycol?
A toxic alcohol commonly found in antifreeze
Its ingestion can lead to metabolic acidosis and renal failure.
What are IV Ethanol and Fomepizole used for?
Antidotes for methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning
They inhibit the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.
What is Heparin?
An anticoagulant that prevents blood clots
It is often used during and after surgeries.
What is Protamine Sulfate?
An antidote for heparin overdose
It neutralizes the anticoagulant effects of heparin.
What are Hydrocarbons?
Compounds consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon
They can be toxic when ingested or inhaled.
What is Hydrofluoric Acid?
A highly corrosive acid that can cause severe burns
It requires immediate treatment with calcium gluconate.
What is Isoniazid (INH)?
An antibiotic used primarily to treat tuberculosis
Overdose can lead to seizures and metabolic acidosis.
What is Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) used for in toxicology?
To treat isoniazid overdose
It helps reverse the effects of the drug.
What is Iron toxicity treated with?
Deferoxamine (Desferal)
It chelates excess iron to remove it from the body.
What is Methanol?
A toxic alcohol that can cause metabolic acidosis and blindness
Its ingestion requires immediate medical attention.
What are Opioids?
A class of drugs used to treat pain
They can cause respiratory depression and overdose.
What is Naloxone (Narcan)?
An opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose
It rapidly restores normal breathing.
What are Organophosphates?
A group of chemicals used in pesticides
They can cause cholinergic toxicity.
What does Atropine do?
It blocks the effects of acetylcholine
It is used to treat organophosphate poisoning.
What are Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)?
A class of antidepressants that can be toxic in overdose
Symptoms include anticholinergic effects and cardiac arrhythmias.
What is Bicarbonate (Bicarb) used for?
To correct metabolic acidosis
It can also be used in certain drug overdoses.
What defines a 1st Degree burn?
Red skin, no blisters
Commonly caused by sunburns or short exposure to flames.
What characterizes a 2nd Degree burn?
“Partial thickness” with blisters
Often caused by hot water.
What is a 3rd Degree burn?
“Full thickness” burn with charred, leathery tissue
It destroys all layers of skin.
What is a 4th Degree burn?
Extends through all layers of skin down to the bone
Often requires amputation.
What is the Brooke formula for burn fluid resuscitation?
2cc x kg x BSA over 24hrs
First half given in the first 8 hours from the time of burn.
What is the Parkland formula for burn fluid resuscitation?
4cc x kg x BSA over 24hrs
First half given in the first 8 hours from the time of burn.
What is the goal urine output (UOP) for burn patients?
30-50ml/hr
This is essential for kidney perfusion.
What is the primary treatment for electrical injuries?
Maintain a urine output of 100ml/hr
This helps prevent renal failure.
What should be done for chemical burn patients before transport?
Flush with copious water
Irrigation takes priority over transport.
What is the treatment for acid burns?
Dilute with copious amounts of water
Neutralize hydrofluoric acid with calcium gluconate.
What are the signs of inhalational burns?
Facial burns, carbonaceous sputum, stridor
These indicate potential airway injury.
What is the treatment for Carbon Monoxide (CO) intoxication?
100% oxygen therapy
Patients may require treatment for 12-24 hours.
What predicts the severity of electrical injuries?
Voltage and amperage
Amperage is a better predictor of injury.
What is Newton’s 1st Law of Motion?
A body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion unless acted upon by a force
This is known as the law of inertia.
What does Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion state?
Force equals mass times acceleration
It describes how an object accelerates in response to applied force.
What is Beck’s Triad?
Muffled heart tones, hypotension, and jugular venous distention
It is a classic presentation of cardiac tamponade.
What is the initial treatment for pneumothorax?
Occlusive dressing over the wound
Followed by needle decompression if symptomatic.
What is the most commonly damaged organ in trauma?
The skin
It is often the first point of injury in blunt trauma.
What is the most definitive assessment of shock?
Lactic acidosis (lactate >4 Mmol/L)
It indicates tissue hypoperfusion.
What characterizes a tension pneumothorax?
Accumulation of air in the pleural space leading to respiratory distress
It is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate intervention.
What is a rib fracture commonly associated with?
Head, neck, and spinal cord injuries
Especially when the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd ribs are involved.
