Triage Flashcards
What are the major body systems?
Cardiovascular, nervous system, respiratory system
What are the steps in triaging?
1) abbreviated look at mbs
2) stabilize patient
3) thorough mbs exam
4) abdominal palpation and temperature
5) bloods?
What is BAR?
bright, alert and responsive
What do you check in cardiovascular system?
heart rate, pulse quality, CRT, mucous membrane colour, auscultate heart
What is CRT and what is normal?
Capillary refill time. 1-2 secs max is normal
What do you check in respiratory system?
auscultate, resp rate, resp efffort, posture
What is paradoxical abdominal movement?
When breathing when the abdomen and the thorax go in different directions instead of together.
Indicates severe respiratory distress in inspiration and the diaphragm is moving cranially not caudally.
Respiratory distress posture?
Cat - straight neck, open mouth, sternal recumbancy (if lateral recumbancy = impending death)
Dog - Straight neck, open mouth, abducted elbows
What is stridor?
Audible noise from upper resp tract disease
Upper/lower tract disease differences
URT disease - longer inspiratory phase
LRT disease - longer expiratory phase
CNS exam?
mental status, lymb dysfunction/gait
What are the different mental state?
Alert
Obtunded - dull/depressed but rousable
Stuporous - rouse only with painful stimuli
Comatose - unrousable
What are the 4 types of shock?
Hypovolaemic
Distributive/septic
Cardiogenic
Obstructive
What is shock?
A lack of oxygen to tissue
What is hypovolaemic shock?
lack of circulating blood (vom/dia , blood loss)
What is distributive/septic shock?
inappropriate vasodilation to non-vital organs
What is Cardiogenic shock?
failure of heart to pump effectively ( dilated cardiomyopathy)
What is obstructive shock?
Blood return to the heart is obstructed (pulmonary thromboembolism, pericardial effusion)
What is the difference between pyrexia and hyperthermia?
pyrexia is an altered hypothalmic set point (inf/infl) where as hyperthermia is an inability to lose heat (seizure, hot car, obstructed breathing)
