Triage & ER Problem Lists

Question 1

3 goals of ER care

Answer 1

1. treat and avoid life threatening situations by instituting appropriate therapy
2. relieve animal suffering
3. do these in a timely manner to treat next patient

Question 2

triage

Answer 2

prioritizing patients by degree of sickness in order to provide care for the sickest patients first

Question 3

what problems are highest in triage

Answer 3

• respiratory
• cardiovascular
• neurologic

ABCDE (airway, breathing, circulation, disability/neurologic, emesis)

Question 4

signs of airway and breathing problems

Answer 4

• apnea
• severe stridor + stertor
• obvious respiratory distress
• cyanosis
• decreased breath sounds

Question 5

stridor vs stertor

Answer 5

stridor: continuous, breathing through a straw sounds

stertor: discontinuous, snoring sounds

Question 6

signs of circulation problems

Answer 6

perfusion parameters:
1. mentation
2. MM color - pale vs hyperemic
3. CRT - rapid vs slow
4. HR - tachy vs brady
5. pulse quality - poor vs bounding
6. extremity temperature - cool vs warm

Question 7

signs of neurologic problems

Answer 7

• altered mentation
• abnormal pupils or decreased PLRs
• abnormal posturing or acute onset paraplegia
• seizures

Question 8

signs of problems requiring emesis

Answer 8

• toxin ingested within past 2 hours
• may have a normal PE at presentation if ingestion was acute - want to prevent life threatening intoxication by inducing emesis

Question 9

4 criteria for ER problem lists

Answer 9

1. facts only
2. highest level of understanding
3. each problem has its own unique r/o list, diagnostics, or treatment plan
4. only includes active problems that will be addressed today