Small Animal Emergencies: Triage & Stabilization Flashcards
what triage occurs in the waiting room
stable vs immediate care (CPA/shock)
what is triage in the waiting room primarily based on (2)
- vital signs
- ABC
what other information should you get in the waiting room (2)
- brief history (presenting complaint)
- focused physical exam
what is the traffic light system used in the waiting room triage
red: critical unstable
amber: urgent/potentially unstable
green: stable
what triage can be done on the phone
- background info
- main complaint
- specific questions –> ABC
what else can be communicated on the phone when triaging
- advice on first aid transport –> handling/mobilization, muzzle
- clear instructions/directions
what questions could you ask the owner when triaging on the phone
beginning of signs?
did signs become more severe?
is the pet standing?
responsive?
do you think the pet is in pain?
can you see the colour of the gums?
what is the primary survey of the patient
physical parameters in more detail
less than 2 mins
what is the goal of the primary survey
routine systematic approach to stabilize the patient
ABCDE
what is the secondary survey and when is it done
after life-saving procedures started
re-evaluation in detail of ABCDE
complete history
what is the goal of the secondary survey
full understanding of the patients condition
long term plans and therapeutics
fill out the diagram of ABCDE
what are the pathways to establish a plan with the airway
what is the difference between stridor and stertor and what do they indicate
Stridor/stretor = abnormal upper resp sounds
Strider: high pitch sound that is seen with laryngeal paralysis (narrowing)
Stertor: rough sound made after vibration of soft tissue with passage of air (BOAS the sound bulldogs make)
Can hear without stethoscope and always indicate abnormalities in upper airway
what observations should be made when observing the patient’s breathing
respiratory rate and effort
auscultate for increased/decreased/abnormal sounds
what other diagnostic tools can be used to assess breathing
- T-POCUS: thoracic point of care ultrasound
- SpO2
- EtCO2/PCO2
what can T-POCUS diagnose (4)
- pleural effusion
- pneumothorax
- B lines (pulmonary edema)
- consolidation
what is paradoxical breathihg
asynchrony between abdomen and chest when breathing
what are the types of O2 therapy
- flow by/O2 mask
- O2 hood
- O2 cage
- O2 prongs/nasopharyngeal cannula
what are the indications for O2 therapy (4)
- cyanosis hypoxemia
- dyspnea
- SpO2 < 93%
- PaO2 <70mmHg
what are the advantages of flow by
if the patient won’t tolerate a mask
what are the disadvantages of O2 masks
risks of CO2 rebreathing
patient won’t tolerate sometimes
what are the advantages of O2 cages
control of humidity and CO2
higher concentrations than masks
what are the disadvantages of O2 prongs
may require sedation to fit prongs
stress
patient discomfort