Pathophysiology of Trauma

Question 1

How can a head injury cause resp/cardiac problems?

Answer 1

Raised intracranial pressure compressing e.g. breathing centre

Question 2

From what injury could you get a fat embolism?

Answer 2

Long bone fracture

Question 3

At what % burns would the cytokines/inflammatory mediators released have a systemic effect?

Answer 3

~30%

Question 4

What are 4 general effects of severe trauma?

Answer 4

Bleeding
Infection/Sepsis
Organ dysfunction/systemic effects
Multi organ failure/dysfunction (MOD)

Question 5

When does haemorrhage become life threatening?

Answer 5

> 20% blood vol lost

Question 6

What is SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome)? What are the signs?

Answer 6

Is the body’s response to infection, inflammation, stress. Includes 2 of the following: High or low temp, HR >90bpm, Resps >20bpm, high or low WBC count

Question 7

What occurs in multi organ failure? Give 6 organs that are affected

Answer 7

Hypo metabolic
Immunodepressed
Death

Acute Kidney Injury - failure, acidosis, uraemia
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome - impaired gas exchange, increased O2 requirement
Cardiac Dysfunction - hypotension reduced CO
Encephalopathy - reduced conscious level
GI disturbance - ishaemia, perforation etc
Liver dysfunction - low albumin, jaundice
Coagulopathy and Bone marrow suppression (DIC, anaemia, neutropenia)