Signs and Symptoms Review Flashcards
Compensated Shock (Reversible)
- change in LOC (anxious appearance)
- increased pulse and respirations
- cool, pale skin
- normal to slightly increased BP (increase due to initial vasoconstriction)
Uncompensated Shock (Irreversible)
- decrease in LOC, unconscious
- decreased HR
- decreased respirations
- cyanosis (decreased perfusion to tissues)
- lactic acid build up
- hypotension
Neurogenic Shock (Spinal Cord Injury)
- warm, dry, flushed skin and capillary refill normal
- neurologic deficit (paralysis or loss of sensation)
- change in respiratory pattern (diaphragm breathing)
- hypothermia (late sign)
- hypotension (early sign)
- HR normal or bradycardic
- cervical vertebrae - most likely fractured (least protected)
- phrenic nerve (C2-C4) controls chest wall
Anaphylactic Shock (Allergic Reaction)
- itching, flushing, hives
- swelling of eyelids, lips and tongue
- tightness in chest (SOB and wheezing)
- severe dyspnea
- abdominal cramps
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- tachycardia, hypotension
Psychogenic Shock
- fainting with no sign of serious injury or illness
- SOB, anxious, increased HR, respirations and BP
- respiratory alkalosis due to hyperventilation
- normal pulse oximetry
Septic Shock
- elevated temp initially (source of infection)
- decreased temp (late sign)
- petechiae
- decreased LOC
- creeping mottling
- tachycardia and hypotensive (vasodilation)
Cardiogenic Shock (Heart Failure)
- dyspnea
- rales (wet lung sounds)
- tachycardia, decreased BP (ineffective pump)
- increased respirations, diaphoresis, arrhythmias
- increased blood volume in lungs and liver due to pump failure (CHF)
Hypovolemic Shock (Bleeding or Dehydration)
- increased HR and respirations
- decreased BP
- cyanosis (lack of O2 to tissues)
- diaphoresis
- internal or external bleeding
- LOC changes
- anxious appearance
- hypoxia
Cerebral Artery Aneurysm
- severe headache, blurred vision
- altered LOC
- s&s of ICP
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
- sudden onset
- pain, ripping or tearing sensation
- pain may radiate to the neck, back, shoulders or abdomen
- stridor or hoarseness, dyspnea
- s&s of hypovolemic shock after rupture
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
- lower abdominal pain
- pain may be consistent or intermittent
- palpable abdominal pulse
- lower back or flank pain
- unequal or absent distal pulses
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
- same as CVA but not permanent, resolves between 24-48 hours
Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA - Stroke)
- headache
- change in LOC
- blurred vision
- unequal pupils
- hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis)
- common causes are hypertension and arteriosclerosis
Hypertensive Crisis
- headache
- dizziness
- restless
- blurred vision
- nose bleed
- vomiting
- seizure
- stupor
- coma
Acute Myocardial Infarction (Acute MI)
- skin cool, pale, sweaty
- SOB
- anxious
- feeling of impending doom
- pain that radiates to arm, shoulder, neck, jaw or back
- nausea or vomiting
- begins at rest
- denial
- may have normal VS in the beginning with NO chest pain
Angina
- induced by exercise, emotion, eating
- relieved by nitro and rest
- main symptom of CAD
- last 3-5 months typically
CHF/ Left-sided Heart Failure
- dyspnea
- rales
- tachycardia
- chronic atrial arrhythmias
- pink, frothy sputum (pulmonary edema)
- orthopnea
- increased BP
Right-sided Heart Failure
- peripheral edema
- JVD (blood backing up)
- Ascites (enlarged liver)
- pt may complain of RUQ pain
Pericardial Tamponade
- shock
- dyspnea
- mechanism of injury
- weak, rapid pulse
- equal breath sounds
- Beck’s triad - muffled heart sounds, JVD, narrowing pulse pressure (hypotension)
Flail Chest
- localized pain at injury site
- point tenderness
- pain with increased movement
- may report a crackling sensation
- deformity of the chest wall
- characteristic stance - leaning toward injured site
- holding hand over injured area
- paradoxical movement of the chest wall
- seen w/ rib fractures
Hemothorax
- Vital signs may present like shock
- no JVD
- hypo-resonance chest sounds (muffled)
Myocardial Contusion
- sternal bruising
- chest pain
- arrhythmias
- SOB, dyspnea
- usually seen in MVC - blunt force trauma - chest into steering wheel
Pulmonary Contusion
- often asymptomatic initially
- monitor for increased respiratory distress
- monitor for signs and symptoms of hypoxia
- contusions and abrasions
- mechanism of injury
- respiratory distress worsens before improves
Pulmonary Embolism
- sudden onset
- SOB
- chest pain
- increased HR and respiratory rate
- cool, pale, clammy skin
- decreased LOC (hypoxia)
- pink, tinged sputum
- clear breath sounds initially than rales as PE gets worse
- bed ridden pt, trauma or surgical pt, prolonged sitting, recent c-section or traumatic delivery, <40 year old taking oral contraceptives, smokers
Sucking Chest Wound (Open Pneumo)
- same as pneumothorax
- open wound on chest wall
- may hear sucking sound w/ patients respirations
Pneumothorax - Spontaneous or Traumatic
- spontaneous usually occur in tall, thin pt with coughing episode
- sudden onset of sharp chest pain
- SOB
- decreased or absent breath sounds on affected side/ hyper-resonance
- tracheal deviation (late sign)
- displaced heart sounds
Traumatic Asphyxia
- head, neck and shoulders appear dark blue or purple
- eyes may be blood shot or bulging
- chest wall appears deformed
- severe respiratory distress
- severe shock
- many are CPR on scene
Closed Head Injury (increased ICP)
- subdural or epidural hematomas
- change in LOC - 1st indicator
- personality changes
- seizures
- headache
- aphasia
- projectile vomiting
- posturing
- pupils may be dilated, usually unequal (late sign)
- irregular respiratory patterns, usually Cheyne-Stokes
- decreased pulse, increase blood pressure, with irregular respirations = CUSHINGS