Veterans Health Issues

Question 1

Mental illness prevalence in the military

Answer 1

not any higher than the civilian population (same with other diseases of the young)

Question 2

VBA is; VHA does

Answer 2

analogous workman’s compensation; compensation exams and doesn’t dtermine rate of disability or pension

Question 3

Common infectious diseases in military:

Answer 3

Malaria, Dengue, Q-fever, TB, parasitic disease endogenous to area they served

Question 4

Consequences of blast injuries:

Answer 4

1. Barotrauma to ears: pressure, pain, hearing loss, tinnitus
2. ” to lungs: asymp, PTX, pneumomediastinum, pneumoperitoneum, subq emphysema, pulm interstitial emphysema
3. air embolism: rare

Question 5

TBI and treatment:

Answer 5

Mild: 13-15
Moderate: 9-12
Severe: 3-8;
get adequate oxygenation and MAP (prevent secondary brain injury);
do DETAILED NEURO EXAM;
do neuroimaging (CT then MRI), operative intervention for mass lesions, ICP monitoring for GCS less than 8

Question 6

Primary brain injury:

Answer 6

1. Diffuse axonal injury
2. Focal cerebral contusions (coup/contra-coup effect)
3. Extra-axial: subdural, epidural hematomas; SAH and intraventricular hemorrhage

FED

Question 7

Secondary brain injury:

Answer 7

1. electrolyte imbalances
2. mito dysfunction
3. inflamm response
4. apoptosis
5. vasospasm and ischemic damage
6. cascade of molecular injury mechs

Question 8

Hostility from vets arises from

Answer 8

perceived lack of empathy and understanding of what they are experiencing is real

Question 9

Most injuries are

Answer 9

traumatic amputations and neurologic injuries