Sudden death Flashcards
signs of sudden death
history - is it unexpected, is there previous history of illness, is there suspicion of neglect
gross examination -
fat stored and muscle coverage
food in stomach
injuries
haemorrhage
histology -
serous atrophy of fat - associated with severe injury and nuritional deficiency
heart condition
body systems implicated in sudden death
nervous
cardiovascular
respiratory
neurogenic shock
imbalance in parasympathetic and sympathetic stimulation
massive vasodilation
decreased vascular tone
decreased vascular resistance
inadequate cardiac output
decreased tissue perfusion
impaired cellular metabolism
causes of neurogenic shock
spinal cord injury above T5
spinal anaesthesia
vasomotor centre depression - associated with pain, drugs, hypoglycemia
autonomic nervous system damage
trauma
hypoxia
oedema
toxins
seizures
signs of neglect affecting nervous system
history of trauma or seizures
skull fractures
areas of haemorrhage in brain
no real histo signs
causes of cardiac failure
structural
electrical
ischaemia
causes of vascular failure
ischaemia
shock
signs of pathology in vessels
evidence of haemorrhage
evidence of disease in organs involved in fluid and electrolyte homeostasis - GI, urinary, endocrine
thromboemboli in kidneys - end arteries
respiratory failure
type 1 - impaired oxygen transfer in lungs –> hypoemia
type 2 - inadequate ventilation –> retention of CO2, hypercarbia, hypoxemia
mixed - acute on chronic
accidental asphyxiation on food - common in dogs
acute respiratory distress syndrome - seconary to inflammation elsewhere, usually pancreatitis, usually in already hospitalised animals (sudden but not unexpected)
BOAS - stertor, stridor, exercise intolerance, syncope, cyanosis
heat stroke
peri-anaesthetic
haemorrhage penumonia - kennelled dogs
dilated cardiomyopathy
dogs, large breeds, males
rapid breathing at rest
increased respiratory effort
coughing
weakness
exercise intolerance
syncope
weight loss
distended belly
sudden death
diagnosis - auscultation (murmur, rhythm), blood and urine (liver and kidney), NT-proBNP, xray, ECG, US
cardiac muscle not working properly, dilated ventricle, impairs ability to generate pressure to pump blood
gross - ventricular and atrial enlargement, left atrium cardiomegaly
histo - elongated thin myocytes, narrow cytoplasm, corrugated appearance from over extension of muscle fibres
arrythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
dog, “boxer cardiomyopathy”
syncope (main thing)
shortness of breath
coughing
exercise intolerance
heart muscle replaced by fatty and fibrous tissue –> arrythmia
gross - fatty right ventrible
histo - fibrosis and fat tissue replacing cardiomyocytes
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
cat, genetic
tachypnoea
dyspnoea
open mouth breathing
hindlimb paresis - thromboembolism
gross - thickened ventricular wall
cardiac muscle staining
massons trichrome
pulmonary haemorrhage in racehorses
common
exercise associated - acute cardiac failure
exercise induced - reduced performance but less sudden death
