Trauma Flashcards
Electrical Shock Cause
Most common cause is from pets chewing on electrical cords
Electrical Shock Signs
- Burns on oral cavity
- Burns on feet pads
- Dyspnea - from pulmonary edema
- Cardiac arrhythmias
Electrical Shock Prognosis
Guarded to poor
Electrical Shock Treatments
- Oxygen administration
- IV Fluids (LRS)
- Antibiotics
- Butorphanol (for pain)
- Monitor ECG for arrhythmias
Electrical Shock
Pulmonary Edema
Diagnosis & Treatment
- Perform thoracic radiographs if suspected
- Treat with furosemide as a diuretic
Hemothorax
On Rads
Fluid appears white/gray
* same density as soft tissue
* will obscure heart and diaphragm
* lungs “floating”
Pluraleffusion
Fluid in the chest
Hemothorax Causes
- Congestive heart failure
- Tumor
- Pus
Pulmonary Contusion
Lung bruising
* broken capillaries leak blood
* white inside lung field on rads
Pulmonary Edema
Caused by too much fluid in the lungs
* seen with congestive heart failure in dogs
Pulmonary Contusion Treatment
Hypotensive Fluid Resuscitation
Use of limited fluids / blood products to restore blood pressure and flow to non-essential organs
* not LRS
* use colloids, hetastarch, plasma, or hypertonic saline
* systolic BP to 90 (normal is 120)
* MAP of 60
Flail Chest
Occurs when 2 or more adjacent ribs are fractured in 2 places
* diagnosed on site; no need for rads
* associated with pulmonary contusion and pneumothorax
Signs of Head Trauma
- Altered LOC
- Changes in eyes
- Changes in gait
Head Trauma Treatment
Avoid increasing intracranial pressure and BP
* limited fluids
* elevate head
* diuretics
* oxygen
* cooling
Typical Spinal Fractures
At TL Junction
* “tenting”
* inverted “V” in spine
Lower Lumbar
* less nerve injury compared to TL junction
* caudal section shifts and comes forward
