U2 O1 - Monitoring the critical patient Flashcards
Why are the three major body systems the most important at assessing in an emergency when failure of other body systems can also lead to death?
The three body systems that should be assessed initially in the critically ill/ trauma
patient are the neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Some sources
will add in the renal system which is, of course, also important. However, with
emergency and critical care cases, the major body systems that are assessed are
those that that can lead to death within minutes and not hours if not functioning.
Why is it important to monitor trends?
Monitoring of trends, especially, is highly effective at identifying the stable versus the unstable patient; and the improving versus the deteriorating
patient. Monitoring trends involves comparing variables over a timescale e.g. respiratory rate, pulse rate, pulse strength, serum lactate etc. (Bradbrook, 2013). If a patient admitted for observation following a road traffic accident, became increasingly dull, with an increasing heart rate, increasing respiratory rate and
weakening/ absent peripheral pulses, the trends would be of concern. This patient does not have stable cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological parameters- there could be an undetected problem e.g. internal haemorrhage. It should be noted that
following a traumatic incident some abnormalities are not always apparent on admission of the patient to the hospital. For example, a patient could develop pulmonary contusions over a period of hours following blunt trauma to the chest.
Ongoing diligent monitoring is vital for the emergency presentation and will often be the task of the registered veterinary nurse.
What are the key principles to guide the care of the small animal ICU patient?
Key principles to guide the care of the small animal
ICU patient.
• Treat the most life‐threatening problem first
• Treat the patient, not the numbers
• Anticipate the worst and be ready for it
• Provide the right treatment, at the right time, in the right amount
• Examine the cause of the problem and the effect on the patient
• Weigh the pros and cons of every drug and procedure
• There is not a drug for every problem – less is best
• If it has not been written down, it has not been done
• Never ignore your gut feeling
• Things are done in the order of importance
What is the aim of Kirbys rule of 20?
Problems within the major organ systems should be anticipated in advance, with appropriate diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring efforts employed early, rather than waiting for a problem to surface and reacting to it. The Rule of 20 was developed to assist the critical care team in thoughtfully and carefully assessing these patients.
What are kirbys rule of 20 parameters?
Fluid balance Blood pressure Albumin, COP Glucose Electrolytes Acid – base Oxygenation/ventilation Coagulation Red blood cell status Heart rate, rhythm, contractility Neurological status Urinary tract status WBC, Immune status GI tract status Nutritional status Drug dosing, metabolism Body temperature Pain control Wound and bandage care Nursing care, TLC
The Rule of 20. Each parameter should be assessed regularly in any critically ill dog or cat. The order of importance will vary between individual patients. COP, colloidal osmotic pressure; GI, gastrointestinal,
TLC, tender loving care; WBC, white blood cell.
What history should be ascertained from the owner of a critically ill patient?
Signalment Alert for age, breed and intact reproductive
tract related disorders
Presenting complaint Noted by staff at time of presentation and recorded. Best not to start history with this inquiry in order to control the historical
sequence of the problem
Last normal Inquire when patient was last absolutely
normal, may be abnormal prior to presenting
complaint. Differentiates peracute, acute,
chronic, and acute‐on‐chronic problems
Progression Outline of sequence of changes occurring in the patient from the time of “Last normal”
until the present day
Characterization of problems
Identified problems are characterized (such as volume, rate, consistency, color, sound, intensity, duration). Individual problems in the Rule of 20 are discussed in individual chapters
Systems review Report on problems or systems not discussed related to the current problems and
progression. Examples include: vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, nasal or ocular discharge, seizures, fainting, weakness, water
intake, urination frequency and effort, urine color, stool consistency
Past medical history Vaccination, heartworm, and parasite control are listed. Any blood transfusions, problems with anesthesia or sedation are reported. Past medical problems and laboratory results of
concern
Medications List prescribed, over the counter and
supplements given to the animal. Medications
taken by the owner may be important if patient exposure is possible Exposure to toxins or infectious disease Inquire about the patient environment
including outdoor habits, ill animals or people,
groups of animals, new products or people
and other lifestyle habits
Nutrition Inquire about type, quantity, and brand of
food, feeding routine, appetite, access to
water, weight gain or loss
What should be determined when assessing the cardiovascular system?
When examining the cardiovascular system, the focus should be upon determining if there is adequate tissue perfusion.
What should be assessed when checking the cardiovascular system?
The patient’s mentation should be judged as
appropriate or not - decreased cerebral perfusion will result in behaviour changes
e.g. the patient is obtunded or stuporous etc. Mucous membranes should be assessed regularly to ensure that they are a normal, pink colour and the capillary
refill time (CRT) is normal (1-2 seconds). Both an abnormally slow and an abnormally rapid CRT would be a significant finding.
Central and peripheral pulses should be regularly palpated to ensure that they are
strong and synchronous. Any change from normal should prompt further investigation of the cardiovascular system e.g. in a dog a palpable femoral pulse but absent dorsal pedal pulse would be a significant finding that should prompt thorough
re-evaluation of the cardiovascular system, including arterial blood pressure monitoring
Auscultation of the heart is important to detect the heart rate and rhythm. Additional
finding such as muffled or abnormal heart sounds e.g. murmurs should be recorded.
What does an ECG monitor?
ECG uses the electrical impulses generated by the cardiac conduction system to create a tracing which can be used for monitoring both the heart rate and rhythm.The ECG monitors and transmits electrical activity at the body surface to create the ECG trace.
What does an ECG not assess?
It does not, however, give any indication of heart function i.e. the ability of the
myocardium to contract nor if the patient is in heart failure.
What common ECG disturbances can be seen in critically ill patients?
Common ECG disturbances, in critically ill patients, include sinus tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, accelerated idioventricular (pertaining to the cardiac ventricle alone) rhythm, premature ventricular complexes and ventricular tachycardia. ECG
manifestations of hyperkalaemia (spiked T waves, prolonged PR interval, loss of P waves and widening of the QRS) may occur in patients with urinary tract dysfunction resulting in decreased urine output e.g. bladder rupture or urethral obstruction
Why is it important to perform an ECG on an animal with hyperkalemia?
Hyperkalaemia can cause a fatal cardiac arrythmia so prompt recognition of ECG
changes suggestive of it are crucial.
What factors depend on whether cardiac dysrhythmias require treatment?
The need to treat and choice of treatment for cardiac dysrhythmias is dependent on various factors- heart rate, clinical signs, evidence of perfusion abnormalities, underlying cause and presence of specific ECG changes e.g. multiform complexes or the ‘R on T’ phenomenon.
How do you determine if a patient has an accelerated idioventricular rhythm on an ECG?
It is likely that a dog has an accelerated idioventricular rhythm if there are four or more consecutive ventricular ectopic beats/ ventricular premature contraction (VPCs) but the heart rate is ≤ ~ 140 beats per minute.
Does an accelerated idioventricular rhythm on an ECG require treatment?
In the absence of perfusion abnormalities attributed to this rhythm, definitive treatment with an antidysrhythmic is not warranted as the treatment may lead to serious side-effects. Maintenance of
euvolaemia (normal blood volume), adequate oxygenation, and normal acid-base and electrolyte status is indicated.
Dysrhythmias resulting in decreased perfusion, as evidenced by clinical signs (e.g. depression, syncope, poor pulse quality, pale mucous membranes, cool extremities, prolonged CRT) or objective means (hypotension, hyperlactataemia) will required
additional treatment following correction of hypovolaemia and hypoxaemia.
What is blood pressure a marker for?
Blood pressure can be used as a surrogate marker of blood flow to tissues e.g. low blood pressure would indicate decreased perfusion.
Why might a patient with decreased perfusion have a normal blood pressure reading?
Blood pressure can be used as a surrogate marker of blood flow to tissues e.g. low blood pressure would indicate decreased perfusion. However, in some patients, intense peripheral vasoconstriction because of compensatory mechanisms in response to e.g. blood loss may result in an ‘adequate’ blood pressure reading (Thomovsky, 2013). This patient would, however, have minimal perfusion/ blood flow to the periphery despite a normal blood pressure reading- thus it is important to record blood pressure alongside other observations for it to be meaningful. Different vascular beds in the body may have differing blood flow (perfusion) at the same blood pressure.
What is the normal systolic blood pressure for a dog?
Systolic pressures of ~110-160 mmHg
What is the normal diastolic blood pressure for a dog?
Diastolic pressures of~ 55-110 mmHg
What is the normal mean blood pressure for a dog?
Mean pressure of ~100 mmHg
What is the normal systolic blood pressure for a cat?
Systolic pressures of ~120-170 mmHg
What is the normal diastolic blood pressure for a cat?
Diastolic pressure of ~70-120mmHg
What is the normal mean blood pressure for a cat?
Mean pressure of ~ 135 mmHg
When does hypertension become a concern?
Hypertension becomes a concern when systolic pressure increases above 170 mmHg, or diastolic pressure is greater than 110 mmHg.