Physiological Principle in the Clinical Evaluation of a Patient Flashcards
Physiological Knowledge
Understand patient presentations
Plan and interpret investigations
Plan management options
Provide health promotion
Shortness of Breath
Acute
Chronic
How to approach a patient with acute shortness of breath?
ABCDE
History
Examination
Investigations
Diagnosis
Management
Clinical Signs assessed
Pulse
BP
Temperature
Respiratory rate
O2 Saturation
Conscious patient
Clinical investigations done at home
Blood Glucose
ECG
Management to correct abnormal physiology that needs immediate attention
Given O2 –> improved O2 saturation
Homeostasis
the maintenance of steady states within our bodies by coordinated physiological mechanisms
Why do we need to breath?
Need constant O2 to produce energy and function
CO2 removed from body
NEWS Chart
Can record vital signs
Compare to normal values
Clinical concerns override any scores
How the O2 is supplied to, and CO2 removed from our body cells?
We need:
Enough O2
Control - controls rate and depth of breathing
Ventilator pump - moves O2 and CO2 in and out
Gas exchanger - exchanges O2 and CO2 between lungs/blood
CV System - moves blood with O2 and CO2
Sufficient Hb to carry O2
Some causes of shortness of breath
Respiratory
CV
Other causes, Haematological, endocrine/metabolic, psychological, physiological
What was wrong with this patient?
Heart function became abnormal
Left side of heart not pumping as well - excess fluid in lungs = Pulmonary oedema
Acute pulmonary oedema
Difficult to breath
