Peer 8 - environmental disorders

Question 1

stages of whole body irradiation?

Answer 1

hematopoietic syndrome begins with rapid decline in lymph

then decline in granulocytes and platelets

GI syndrome occurs at high doses and includes severe vomiting, diarrhea, and abd pain –> fatal from fulminant enterocolitis

CV and CNS include hypotension, AMS, lethargy, ataxia tremors and occurs at very high doses

Question 2

how can you predict irradiation recovery?

Answer 2

ALC measured at 24 hours is above 1200 is good prognosis, < 500 is bad prognosis, < 300 at 48 hours means death

Question 3

what is the cause of death in cold water immersion?

Answer 3

cardiac dysrhythmia on sudden contact with water much colder than core temperature

Question 4

Most effective initial intervention for cooling a patient with heat stroke?

Answer 4

wetting skin and cooling with fans (evaporative cooling)

Question 5

definitive treatment for arterial gas embolism?

Answer 5

recompression therapy or hyperbaric oxygen

Question 6

sx of scombroid poisoning?

Answer 6

facial flushing and throbbing headache

Question 7

sx of ciguatoxin?

Answer 7

GI, bradycarida, neuro sx with paresthesias

Question 8

tetrodotoxin sx?

Answer 8

sodium channel blocker, causes paresthesias and respiratory paralysis