Physiological Principles in the Clinical Evaluation of a Patient

Question 1

How is physiological knowledge used in every day clinical practice?

Answer 1

To understand patient presentations
Plan and interpret investigations
Plan management options
Provide health promotion
Disease prevention

Question 2

What are the causes of shortness of breath?

Answer 2

Acute - Comes on suddenly and unexpectedly

Chronic - …………….

Question 3

How do you approach a patient with acute shortness of breath?

Answer 3

ABCDE
History
Examination
Investigation
Diagnosis
Management (this can include providing the patient with oxygen via a face mask)

Question 4

what is the definition of homeostasis?

Answer 4

The maintenance of steady states within our body by coordinated physiological mechanisms.

Question 5

Why is homeostasis essential in the body?

Answer 5

Homeostasis is essential for the normal function of cells.

Question 6

Why do we need to breath?

Answer 6

Our body systems are made of cells

These cells need a constant supply of oxygen …………

Question 7

After the paramedics hand over to the nurse, what does she do next?

Answer 7

she must ensure that the patient is safe, therefore she does everything again as things can change quickly in a short amount of time.
Reassess the patient
Record the vital signs
Repeat the ECG
Inform the doctor

Question 8

After the nurse hands over to the doctor, what will the doctor do?

Answer 8

He will also ensure that the patient is safe and will carry out:
ABCDE
History
Examination
Investigations
Diagnosis
Management
(although these will be more detailed than what was done before by the nurse and paramedics)

Question 9

How is O2 supplied to, and CO2 removed from our body cells?

Answer 9

We need:
Enough O2 in the atmosphere
A controller which controls the rate and depth of breathing
A ventilatory pump which moves O2 and CO2 in and out of the lungs.
A gas exchanger which exchanges O2 and CO2 between the lugs and blood
A cardiovascular system which moves the blood carrying the O2 and CO2 between the lungs and tissues
Sufficient blood haemoglobin which carries the O2

Question 10

What are some causes of shortness of breath?

Answer 10

Respiratory causes
Cardiovascular causes
Other causes
- Haematological causes (e.g. anaemia)
- Endocrine and metabolic causes (e.g. diabetes, obesity)
- Psychological causes (e.g. panic attacks)
- Physiological causes (e.g. exercise, pregnancy)

Question 11

What are reasons that a person’s heart function becomes abnormal?

Answer 11

The heart is not pumping as well as it should
Heart failure can be chronic or acute
When the left side of the heart is not pumping as well as it should. This puts back pressure on the lungs ………..