Pathophysiology Flashcards
CAD (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: narrowing of the coronary arteries limits blood supply to the heart muscle causing angina (CP specifically due to cardiac muscle ischemia)
- Dx: cardiac catheterization (not in ED)
MI (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: acute blockage of the coronary arteries results in ischemia and infarct of the heart muscle
- Risk factors: CAD, HTN, HLD, DM, smoker, FHx of CAD <55y/o
- Dx: EKG (STEMI) or elevated troponin (non-STEMI)
CHF (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: the heart becomes enlarged, inefficient, and congested with excess fluid
- Dx: CXR or elevated BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide)
A-Fib (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: electrical abnormalities in the wiring of the heart causes the atria to quiver abnormally
- Risk factors: paroxysmal A-Fib, chronic A-Fib
- Dx: EKG
Pericarditis
Inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart causing CP
Pleurisy
Inflammation of the sac surrounding the lungs causing pleuritic CP
Costochondritis
Irritation of the ribs causing CP worsened by pressing on the sternum
Chest wall pain
Irritation of the chest wall causing pain with palpation of the chest
Pleural effusion
Fluid collecting around the lungs causing SOB or CP
PE (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: blood clot becomes lodged in the pulmonary artery and blocks blood flow to the lungs
- Risk factors: known DVT, PMHx of DVT or PE, FHx, recent surgery, CA, A-Fib, immobility, pregnancy, BCP, smoking
- Dx: D-dimer followed by CTA chest (w/ IV contrast) or VQ scan
PNA (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: infiltrate (bacterial infection) and inflammation inside the lung
- Risk factors: elderly bedridden, recent chest injury, recent surgery
- Dx: CXR
PTX (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: collapsed lung due to trauma or a spontaneous small rupture of the lung
- Dx: CXR
COPD (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: long-term damage to the lung’s alveoli (emphysema) along with inflammation and mucous production (chronic bronchitis)
- Risk factors: smoking, occupational hazards
- Dx: CXR and hx of smoking
RAD (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: constricting of the airway due to inflammation and muscular contraction of the bronchioles (bronchospasm)
- Dx: clinically
CVA (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: blockage of the arteries supplying blood to the brain resulting in permanent brain damage
- Risk factors: HTN, HLD, DM, hx TIA/CVA, smoking, FHx CVA, A-Fib
- Dx: clinically, potentially normal CT head
Hemorrhagic CVA/brain bleed (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: traumatic or spontaneous rupture of blood vessels in the head leads to bleeding in the brain
- Dx: CT head or LP
TIA (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: vascular changes temporarily deprive a part of the brain of oxygen (sx’s last for less than one hour)
- Dx: clinically
Meningitis (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: inflammation and infection of the meninges; sac surrounding the CNS
- Dx: LP
Spinal cord injury (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: injury to the spinal cord may create weakness or numbness in the extremities past the site of injury
- Dx: CT C-spine (neck), CT T-spine (upper back), CT L-spine (lower back)
SZ (etiology)
- Etiology: abnormal electrical activity in the brain leading to abnormal physical manifestations. Often caused by epilepsy, EtOH withdrawals, or febrile seizure in pediatric pts
Bell’s Palsy (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: inflammation or viral infection of the facial nerve causes one-sided weakness of the entire face
- Dx: clinically
HA/cephalgia (etiology)
- Etiology: various causes including hypertensive headaches (from high BP), recurrent diagnosed migraines, sinusitis, etc.
AMS (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: multiple causes; most common are hypoglycemia, infection, intoxication, and neurological
- Risk factors: diabetic, elderly, demented, EtOH use, drug use
- Dx: case dependent
Syncope (etiology)
- Etiology: temporary loss of blood supply to the brain resulting in loss of consciousness. Variety of causes; most common are vasovagal and low blood volume (dehydration/hypovolemia). Occasionally due to cardiac/neurological causes
Vertigo (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: may be from harmless problem of inner ear (benign positional vertigo) or it may be caused due to damage in a specific center of the brain (possible CVA)
- Dx: clinically
APPY (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: infection of the appendix causes inflammation and blockage, possibly leading to rupture
- Dx: CT A/P with PO contrast
SBO (etiology, risk factor, and dx)
- Etiology: physical blockage of the SI
- Risk factor: elderly, infants, abdominal surgery, narcotic pain medication
- Dx: CT A/P with PO contrast, acute abdominal series (AAS)
Cholelithiasis/cholecystitis (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: minerals from liver’s bile condense to form gallstones which can irritate, inflame, or obstruct the gallbladder
- Dx: abdominal US, RUQ
GI bleed (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: hemorrhage in the upper or lower GI tract can lead to anemia
- Dx: heme positive stool (Guaiac positive) during a rectal exam
Diverticulitis (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: acute inflammation and infection of abnormal pockets of the LI (diverticuli)
- Risk factors: diverticulosis, advanced age
- Dx: CT A/P with PO contrast
Pancreatitis (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: inflammation of pancreas
- Risk factors: EtOH abuse, cholecystitis, specific medications
- Dx: elevated lipase lab test (sometimes elevated amylase)
GERD (etiology)
- Etiology: stomach acid regurgitating into the esophagus
C. diff colitis
Opportunistic bacteria that causes persistent diarrhea (stool therapy)
Gastroenteritis
Vomiting and diarrhea; “GI bug” often viral or bacterial
Crohn’s disease
Immune disorder causing diarrhea and abdominal pain
IBS
Chronically sensitive bowels prone to diarrhea
Gastritis
Irritated stomach with vomiting; “stomach ache”
UTI (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: infection in the urinary tract (bladder/urethra)
- Risk factors: female
- Dx: urine dip (done in ED) or urinalysis (specimen sent to lab to test for nitrile, WBC, and bacteria in urine)
Pyelonephritis (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: infection of the tissue in the kidneys, usually spread from a UTI
- Risk factors: female, frequent UTIs
- Dx: CT abd/pelvis without contrast or confirmed UTI with CVA tenderness on exam
Kidney stone/nephrolithiasis/renal calculi/urolithiasis (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: kidney stone dislodges from the kidney and begins traveling down the ureter. Stone scrapes and irritates the ureter, causing severe flank pain and bloody urine
- Dx: CT abd/pelvis, RBC in urine may be a clue
Ectopic/tubal pregnancy (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: fertilized egg develops outside the uterus, usually in fallopian tube. High risk for rupture and death
- Risk factors: pregnant female (HCG positive), STD (PID)
Ovarian torsion (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: twisting of an ovarian artery reducing blood flow to an ovary, possibly resulting in infarct of the ovary
- Dx: US pelvis (assesses blood flow to ovaries)
Testicular torsion (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: twisting of the spermatic cord resulting in loss of blood flow and nerve function to the testicle
- Dx: US scrotum
URI (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: most often viral infection causes congestion, cough, and inflammation of the upper airway
- Dx: clinically
Otitis media (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: viral or bacterial infection of TM causing ear pain and pressure
- Dx: clinically
Streptococcal pharyngitis (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: bacterial infection of the tonsils and pharynx causing a sore throat and frequently swollen lymph nodes
- Dx: rapid strep
Conjunctivitis (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: infection of the outer lining of the eye (conjunctiva)
- Dx: clinically
Epistaxis (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: rupture of a blood vessel inside the nose causes blood to flow out the nose and into the throat
- Risk factors: blood thinners (Coumadin/Warfarin, ASA, Plavix) or HTN
- Dx: clinically
Musculoskeletal back pain (etiology)
- Etiology: deterioration or strain of the back creates pain that is worse with movement
Extremity injury (etiology)
- Etiology: trauma creates pain/swelling in an extremity
AAA (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: widened and weakened arterial wall at risk of rupture
- Dx: CT A/P with IV contrast dye
Aortic dissection (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: separation of the muscular wall from the membrane of the artery, putting the pt at risk of aortic rupture and death
- Dx: CT chest with IV contrast dye
DVT (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: blood slows down while flowing through long straight veins in extremities; slow-flowing blood is more likely to clot. Once formed the clot can continue to grow and eventually occlude the vein
- Risk factors: PMHx of DVT or PE, FHx, recent surgery, CA, immobility, pregnancy, BCP, smoking, LE trauma, LE casts
- Dx: US/doppler of the extremity
Cellulitis (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: infection of the skin cells
- Dx: clinically
Abscess (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: skin infection with an underlying collection of pus
- Dx: clinically
Rash (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: changes in the skin’s appearance due to systemic/localized reaction. May be caused from medication, virus, bacteria, fungus, insect, etc.
- Dx: clinically
Allergic reaction (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: immune response causing an inflammatory reaction consisting of swelling, itching (pruritus), and rash
- Risk factors: known drug/food allergy
- Dx: clinically
DKA (etiology, risk factors, and dx)
- Etiology: shortage of insulin resulting in hyperglycemia and production of ketones
- Risk factors: DM
- Dx: arterial blood gas (ABG/VBG) showing low pH (acidosis) or positive serum ketones
Psychological disorder (etiology)
- Etiology: various types of psychological disease produce abnormal thoughts, behaviors, or actions
Trauma (etiology and dx)
- Etiology: depending on MOI physical trauma may break bones, sever nerves, rupture blood vessels, or damage internal organs
- Dx: trauma protocol depending on MOI, CT or XR
