Temperature, Pulse, Respiration and Blood Pressure Flashcards
List the types of thermometers that can be used in practice
Digital- rectal, aural and oesophageal
Mercury
Biotherm
What are the advantages of digital thermometers?
Quicker to use
Smaller so more comfortable
Why aren’t mercury thermometers commonly used?
Toxic within glass so easy to break
Need to be shaken down before use
Explain the biotherm thermometer
Tiny chip under scruff and when scanned shows temperature
Describe how to care for and store thermometers
Don’t share between infectious patients
Store in original casing- digital
Store in cotton wool filled with disinfectant solution, dont use hot water as glass breaks- mercury
Where is the most reliable place to take temperature readings from?
Rectal
Describe how to take a rectal temperature
Lubricate thermometer and slowly insert in twisting motion
Hold thermometer flat and push dorsally so is touching top membranes to avoid faeces
Hold for 30-60 seconds, gently remove and clean
Record temperature and disinfect
Define hypothermia
Low body temperature
Define hyperthermia
High body temperature due to environment
Define pyrexia
Increase in body temperature due to infection
Define diphasic
Fluctuating temperature
What is the purpose of measuring blood pressure?
Provide information about cardiovascular function, cardiac output and blood flow
How to calculate blood pressure
Cardiac output x total peripheral resistance
What does systolic blood pressure measure?
Force heart exerts on artery walls each heart beat
What does diastolic blood pressure measure?
Force heart exerts on artery walls between heart beats
What does mean arterial pressure measure?
Average pressure in arteries in cardiac cycle
Dogs blood pressure range
131-154/75
Cats blood pressure
115-162/83
List the methods of recording blood pressure
Arterial catheter
Oscillometric measurement
Dopler technique
Describe how to measure blood pressure using arterial catheter
Place catheter in dorsal pedal, coccygeal or medial auricular artery and connect to DABP monitor
Connect fluid administration set to give 0.9% sodium chloride and pressurise fluid bag above systolic pressure to prevent backflow of blood
Pressure transducer is connected to monitor at level of the heart and to fluid system
Zero monitor to level of right atrium to pick put pressure changes as electrical signals to present a pressure wave
List advantages and disadvantages of arterial catheter to monitor blood pressure
Advantages- most accurate method, real time readings
Disadvantages- only used on critical patients due to invasiveness, costly, risk of haemorrhage and infection
Describe the oscillometric technique of blood pressure monitoring
Place blood pressure cuff on pulse site and ensure line of cuff matches artery. Cuff should be 1/3 width of limbs circumference
Inflate cuff and readings are automatically taken
List advantages and disadvantages of oscillometric blood pressure technique
Advantages- automated so less skill needed, can measure at timed intervals, less handling so lowers stress
Disadvantages- Less accurate when under 5kg, moving or has cardiac issues
Explain the process for the dopler technique of measuring blood pressure
Place cuff proximal to probe
Clip fur around pulse site and clean with surgical spirit then apply ultrasound gel
Place dopler probe on clipped area and move until pulse is found and heard
Inflate cuff with sphygmomanometer until no sound is heard then slowly deflate and record the measurement of when sound returns which is the systolic pressure
Repeat and take average, completely deflating cuff between readings
List advantages of dopler technique
Advantages- easy, affordable, can be used on all animals
Where are palpable pulse sites found
Femoral- medial aspect of femur
Digital- palmer aspect of carpus/inside of wrist
Tarsal- medial aspect of tarsus/middle of ankle
Lingual- ventral aspect of tongue
Define sinus arrhythmia
Increased pulse on inspiration and decreased pulse on expiration
Define dysrhythmia
Pulse rate lower than heart rate
Define hyperdynamic pulse
Strong bounding pulse
Define trachycardia
Increased pulse rate
Define bradycardia
Decreased pulse rate
What are the methods of recording heart rate
Stethoscope
Pulse oximeter
Oesophageal stethoscope
Where is the site to take heart rate from on chest?
On left lower chest between 3rd and 6th ribs/ at point of elbow when standing
Explain the process of using a pulse oximeter
Sensors placed on skin/MM usually on tongue in anaesthetised patients
Light emitted passes through blood in tissue and measures light absorption
When cant pulse oximetry be used?
When there is no peripheral circulation or there is severe circulatory failure
Explain how to use oesophageal stethescope
Only on anaesthetised patients
Tube measured to length from canines to elbow bone
Place with the earpieces in down oesophagus and stop advancing when heartbeat is heard
Tape in place
How do you measure capillary refill time?
Press gums and measure the time it takes to return to normal colour
How do you assess respiration?
Best at rest, watch chest move up and down or place hands on chest or listen
Note respiratory effort
Define dyspnoea
Difficulty breathing
What is the term for when a patient adjusts its position to aid breathing?
Orthopnoea
Define stridor
Shrill harsh inspiratory noise
Define stretor
Snoring
What is meant by paradoxical breathing?
Abnormal respiratory pattern
Diaphragm moves up on inspiration and down on expiration
Define cyanotic
Blue MM
Define rhoncus
Coarse rattling breathing signs
What is meant by abdominal breathing?
Abdomen moves with respiration
Define flail chest
Segment of ribcage separated from main body moves with respiration
Define trachypnoea
Increased respiratory rate
Define bradypnoea
Decreased respiratory rate
What is the name for alternating deep and shallow breathing associated with time before death?
Cheyne stokes
Define apnoea
Cessation of breathing
Normal dog temperature
38.3-39.2
Normal cat temperature
38.2-38.6
Normal horse temperature
37.3-38.2
Normal rabbit temperature
38.5-40
Normal dog pulse rate
70-140
Normal cat pulse rate
140-200
Normal horse pulse rate
30-40
Normal rabbit pulse rate
130-325
Normal dog respiratory rate
10-30
Normal cat respiratory rate
20-30
Normal horse respiratory rate
12-20
Normal rabbit respiratory rate
30-60
