Triage And Major Body System Assessment

Question 1

Should stabilisation measures be implemented during or after the initial assessment?

Answer 1

During

Question 2

What 5 qualities/perfusion parameters should be evaluated during triage?

Answer 2

Heart rate 
Pulse quality 
Mucous membrane colour 
Capillary refill time 
Cardiac auscultation findings

Question 3

What are the common conditions that affect clinical heamodynamic parameters?

Answer 3

Hypovoleamia
Sepsis/inflammatory response syndrome
Anaemia
Abnormal cardiac function

Question 4

Which order should systems be examined in for an emergency exam?

Answer 4

CV, resp, neuro
Then..
Abdo palpation and body temp

Question 5

What two dimensions of the pulse profile can be measured/estimated and how may this change in a pathological situation?

Answer 5

Height and width
In Hypovoleamia, pulse becomes taller and narrower (bounding/hypodynamic/blippy/tall and narrow) due to vasoconstriction -> less elasticity
As hypovoleamia becomes more extreme, oulse remains narrow and decreases in height

Question 6

What does stertor refer to?

Answer 6

Respiratory noises originating rostral to the larynx in the nasal area

Question 7

What does stridor refer to?

Answer 7

Respiratory noises orginiating from the larynx

Question 8

What does a heart rate above 220 in dogs indicate usually?

Answer 8

Cardiac arrhythmia

Question 9

Define shock

Answer 9

Decreased O2 delivery to tissues

Question 10

When may v pink mucous membranes be seen?

Answer 10

Distributive shock = septic shock due to pyometra/septic peritonitis etc. causing vasodilation

Question 11

Why may hyperthermia occour with respiratory problems?

Answer 11

Panting impairment

Question 12

In what species is stress with concurrent dyspnoea very serious potentially fatal?

Answer 12

Cats

Question 13

How may dyspnoea be treated?

Answer 13

Oxygen cage/mask 100% O2 never causes harm

Question 14

How may parenchymal disease be noted on radiographs and auscultation?

Answer 14

White (fluid) in alvioli where should be black lung fields

Harsh crackly lung sounds

Question 15

How may pleural space disease be noted on radiographs and auscultation?

Answer 15

Diffuse white clouding over lower half of lungs

Dull lung and heart sounds

Question 16

What does initial evaluation of the respiratory system comprise of?

Answer 16

Respiratory rate, effort and respiratory auscultation

Question 17

Which postural changes denote dyspnoea?

Answer 17

Neck stretched, open mouth breathing - esp. serious in cats
Dogs stand with elbows abducted
Cats sit in sternal recumbency
Constantly changing body position worse indicator in cats than dogs
Lateral recumbency worse sign in cats than dogs (often impending death)

Question 18

What breathing pattern is associated with dynamic upper airway problems?

Answer 18

Prolonged inspiratory phase with short expiratory phase.

Question 19

How does asthma present?

Answer 19

Longer expiratory phase and increased effort on expiration

Question 20

Where are lung sounds normally more loud and “coarse”?

Answer 20

Cranioventral lung fields

Question 21

Where are lung sounds muffled in the normal healthy animal?

Answer 21

Left cranial field - “cardiac dullness”

Question 22

What is the most liekly reason for an animal to not return to normal following seizure?

Answer 22

Hypoglyceamia

Question 23

What is neuro exam carried out in relation to for an emergency examination?

Answer 23

Whether it is appropriate for the level of respiratory/CV compromise

Question 24

When is a gait abnormality most liekly to be associated with neuro problems?

Answer 24

When more than one limb is affected
Hemi - half the body
Para - pair of limbs
Quadia - All 4 limbs

Question 25

Wht is the difference between paresis and plegia?

Answer 25

Paresis = weakness
Plegia = complete loss of function

Question 26

What temperature raises concern?

Answer 26

> 40 bad, >42 life threatening

Question 27

What is the likely cause of hypothermia?

Answer 27

Poor perfusion

Question 28

What is the minimal diagnositc database carried out for emergency patients?

Answer 28

PCV, total protein, blood glucose

Question 29

What is the single most important variable in improving outcome?

Answer 29

Perfusion