PVN - First Aid

Question 1

What is an open abdominal wound?

Answer 1

An injury to the abdomen that is exposed to the air and thus subject to infection

Question 2

What is a penetrating wound?

Answer 2

A long tract of a puncture wound that may have entered a body cavity e.g. abdomen

Question 3

What could be causes of penetrating wounds?

Answer 3

Bite wounds, bullets, glass etc.

Question 4

Rupture

Answer 4

An injury in which a tear appears in the abdominal wall allowing internal organs from the abdominal cavity to move into other areas of the body

Question 5

Hernia

Answer 5

Where internal organs protrude through a natural opening in the body wall

Question 6

What are the causes of ruptures?

Answer 6

RTA, staking injuries, severe bites, gunshot wounds, surgical procedures

Question 7

Give an example of a congenital hernias

Answer 7

Umbilical hernia

Question 8

Why are herniated organs compromised?

Answer 8

The blood supply is occluded, often resulting in severe compromise

Question 9

What is a closed abdominal wound?

Answer 9

Blunt trauma to the abdominal contents causing bruising or inflammation

Question 10

What are the causes of haemorrhage?

Answer 10

• Haemorrhage into the abdomen occurs when a blood vessel or organ is damaged* It can occur from open or closed wounds

Question 11

What procedure should be performed to confirm fluid in the abdomen?

Answer 11

Paracentesis - with abdominal haemorrhage, whole blood will be detected

Question 12

What are primary nervous system disorders that cause seizures?

Answer 12

• Infections (viral/bacterial)- Trauma with increases intracranial pressure- Congenital conditions e.g. hydrocephalus- Epilepsy- Brain tumours

Question 13

What are secondary causes for seizures?

Answer 13

• Hypoglycaemia- Portosystemic shunt- Hypocalcaemia- Uraemia- Poisons e.g. metaldehyde

Question 14

Extracranial seizures

Answer 14

Caused as a response to metabolic or toxic abnormalities e.g. uraemia

Question 15

Intracranial seizures

Answer 15

Caused by disease of the structure of the brain e.g. brain tumours

Question 16

Idiopathic epilepsy

Answer 16

Chemical imbalance in the brain

Question 17

What are the 3 phases of seizures?

Answer 17

Pre-ictal, ictal, post-ictal

Question 18

What is the pre-ictal phase?

Answer 18

Occurs a few minutes before the fit starts- Animal is restless or excitable

Question 19

What is the ictal phase?

Answer 19

This is the fit- Collapse, salivation, jaw champing- Paddling or jerking movements- Vocalisation- Urination/defaecation- Loss of consciousness

Question 20

What is the post-ictal phase?

Answer 20

Period following the fit- Can last from a few hours up to a week- Dazed, exhausted, restlessness, disorientation

Question 21

Status Epilepticus

Answer 21

This is a prolonged fit lasting longer than a few minutes. Brain damage will occur if left untreated

Question 22

Cluster Fits

Answer 22

This is multiple seizures within a short space of one another

Question 23

Penetrating thoracic wound

Answer 23

A penetrating wound through the chest wall allows air from the atmosphere to flow into the chest - known as a sucking wound

Question 24

What is the treatment for penetrating thoracic wounds?

Answer 24

Using adhesive bandage stick a piece of plastic over the wound to create an airtight dressing. This will prevent more air entering the chest.

Question 25

What can penetrating thoracic wounds lead to?

Answer 25

Pneumothorax or haemothorax

Question 26

Pneumothorax

Answer 26

This is the presence of air in the pleural space. It is a common result of blunt trauma to the chest - leads to pressure causing the lungs to collapse, leading to dyspnoea

Question 27

Simple pneumothorax

Answer 27

Normally caused by non-penetrating trauma to the chest wall, often from RTA’s

Question 28

Open pneumothorax

Answer 28

A penetrating wound in the thoracic wall, resulting in a collapse of the lungs. Often caused by fights, stick injuries and fractured ribs

Question 29

Tension pneumothorax

Answer 29

Serious condition where a large pulmonary leak acts like a ball valve, allowing air to enter the pleural cavity but not leave. Intrapleural pressure increases and the lungs are compressed resulting in severe respiratory compromise

Question 30

Haemothorax

Answer 30

Bleeding into the pleural cavity. As with pneumothorax, as blood builds up, the lungs will collapse under pressure.

Question 31

What is the most common cause of haemothorax?

Answer 31

Fractured ribs

Question 32

Flail chest

Answer 32

Loose segments from a series of broken ribs that are able to move freely as the animal breathes

Question 33

What are the entrances for poison?

Answer 33

Inhalation, ingestion, absorption across skin/mucous membranes