Pathophysiology CPP Flashcards
What is the pathophysiology of a cardiac arrest with an underlying asthmatic disease process?
Air trapping causing obstructive shock, increasing intrathoracic pressure and compressing inferior vena cava, stopping blood flow to right side of heart. Right ventricle depends on preload forcing contraction.
Describe the pathophysiology of seizures.
abnormal neuronal activity within the brain causing random, uncontrolled neuronal depolarisation in one or more regions of the brain.
What is the pathophysiology of a focal seizure?
abnormal neuronal activity originates and is limited to one hemisphere of the cerebral cortex
What is the pathophysiology of a generalised seizure?
abnormal neuronal activity in both hemispheres of the cerebral cortex (absence, atonic, tonic, myoclonic and tonic/clonic)
What is the pathophysiology of an ischaemic stroke?
intracranial or peripheral artery occluded by a thromboembolism from within the brain or one which has travelled from the heart or distal limb which causes hypoxia in downstream brain tissue
What is the pathophysiology of a haemorrhagic stroke?
blood vessel within the brain ruptures and bleeds into surrounding tissue and possibly subarachnoid space, causing hypoxia in downstream brain tissue and increasing ICP
Outline the pathophysiology of anaphylaxis
Allergen exposure causes IgE sensitisation, further exposures then cause IgE crosslinking, causing a massive allergic response that activates mast cells which release inflammatory cells, cytokines white blood cells and histamines, causing wide spread vasodilation.
What is the description of an acute asthma attack?
Reversible, obstructive respiratory disease, characterised by chronic airway inflammation, bronchial hyper responsiveness, airway narrowing, mucous production and mucous plugging.
What is sepsis?
Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection
Describe the pathophysiology of peripartum cardiomyopathy
hormones of late pregnancy causing endothelial dysfunction and cardiomyocyte death
Describe the pathophysiology of pulmonary embolism during pregnancy
hypercoagulable state and decreased blood flow from uterine veins can cause blood clots in the legs which then travel through vasculature to the pulmonary arteries.
What is the pathophysiology of placental abruption?
Rupture of the vessels in the pregnancy modified endometrium causing the placenta to separate partially or completely from the uterine wall.
What is the pathophysiology of placenta praevia?
The embryo implants in the lower part of the uterus causing the placenta to grow close to or over the cervical os
What is the pathophysiology of uterine rupture?
A spontaneous tearing of the uterus usually from trauma, genetic uterine wall weakness, prolonged labour augmentation or stretching of the uterine wall
What is the pharmacology of refractory anaphylaxis drugs?
Persistent wheeze
* NEB Salbutamol - affects B2 receptors causing bronchodilation
* NEB Ipratropium bromide - promotes bronchodilation by inhibiting cholinergic bronchomotor tone
* IV Hydrocortisone – stabilises mast cells
Persistent hypotension/shock
* Glucagon – increases accessory pathway of cyclic amp to increase myocardium calcium release, increasing hr and contractility via non adrenergic pathway
* Fluid for hypotension – end goal of return of radial pulse
Upper airway obstruction
* Neb adrenaline – providing localised vasoconstriction to target tissues in larynx and airways reducing capillary leakage and airway oedema
