Terminology Flashcards
What is the difference between transudate and exudate?
A transudate is a low protein and low cell count effusion whereas an exudate would contain high cell counts and protein.
Would pleural effusion from FIP be considered a transudate or an exudate? Why?
Exudate, due to high protein content.
What is the difference between a pure transudate and a modified transudate.
Pure transudates have the lowest protein and cell content, usually less than 2.5mg/dL of protein whereas modified transudates have slightly higher protein and cell counts.
A patient with hypoalbuminemia begins third spacing and develops abdominal effusion. Would this effusion be a pure or modified transudate?
Pure transudate.
Define Kussmaul breathing and its cause.
A respiratory pattern characterized by rapid deep breaths. It’s a sign of metabolic acidosis.
Define Cheyne-stokes breathing and its cause(s).
A respiratory pattern that consists of a period of fast and shallow breaths followed by a slow and heavy breath. There can also be periods of apnea between. It’s common when there is significant brain swelling or central lesions present.
Define orthopnea and its cause(s).
Orthopnea is a posture that patients with heart failure or severe respiratory disease will do. It’s characterized by sitting upright and extending the head and neck upwards to ease work of breath.
Define opisthotonus and its cause(s).
Opistotonus is a posture when the head and neck and back with be arched backward. It’s caused by severe brain swelling or brain lesions.
What’s the difference between decerebrate and decerebellate rigidity?
Decererebate is caused by a brainstem lesion which will cause an opisthotnous posture, but the patient will be unconscious. Decerebellate is caused by a cerebellar lesion which cause opisthotonus, but the patient will be conscious.
Define Schiff-Sherrington posture and its cause(s).
It’s characterized by the patient extending their thoracic limbs while the pelvic limbs are paralyzed. It’s caused by T-L lesions.
