WEEK 13 NEW Flashcards
- Flail chest
A segment of the rib cage breaks under trauma and becomes detached from the rest of the chest wall, causing paradoxical chest movement during breathing.
- Treatment of a patient who presents with cyanosis following a chest injury.
Administer high-flow oxygen, monitor airway, assist ventilation if needed, and prepare for immediate transport to hospital; also assess for pneumothorax or other underlying problems.
- Simple pneumothorax
Air enters the pleural space without causing a shift of mediastinal structures; lung partially collapses but no tension is created.
- Open pneumothorax
A sucking chest wound where air enters the pleural space through an open chest wall wound, causing lung collapse.
- Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood or blood-streaked sputum from the respiratory tract.
- Pleurisy
Inflammation of the pleural membranes leading to sharp chest pain during breathing.
- Pneumothorax
Presence of air in the pleural space causing partial or complete collapse of the lung.
- Tension pneumothorax
Air enters the pleural space and becomes trapped, causing increased intrathoracic pressure, mediastinal shift, and impaired circulation; a medical emergency.
- Subcutaneous emphysema
Air trapped in the tissues under the skin, often felt as a crackling sensation on palpation.
- The diaphragm
A dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and is the primary muscle involved in respiration.
- Hematuria
Presence of blood in the urine.
- Hollow organs
Organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, and gallbladder that can spill contents into the abdominal cavity if ruptured.
- Solid organs
Organs such as the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys that have a rich blood supply and can cause severe bleeding if injured.
- Guarding
Voluntary or involuntary tensing of the abdominal muscles to protect inflamed organs during palpation.
- Signs and symptoms of intra-abdominal bleeding
Abdominal pain, tenderness, distension, signs of shock (tachycardia, hypotension), and possibly bruising.
- Early signs of abdominal trauma
Tenderness, rigidity, guarding, and localized pain.
- Peritonitis
Inflammation of the peritoneum caused by infection or rupture of hollow organs leading to severe abdominal pain and tenderness.
- Mesentery
A fold of the peritoneum that attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall and contains blood vessels and nerves.
- Rebound tenderness
Pain felt upon release of pressure during abdominal examination, indicating peritoneal irritation.
- Strain
Injury to a muscle or tendon caused by overstretching or overuse.
- Sprain
Injury to a ligament caused by stretching or tearing.
- The various types of fractures
Includes simple (closed), compound (open), greenstick, comminuted, transverse, oblique, spiral, and impacted fractures.
- Atrophy
Decrease in size or wasting away of a body part, usually muscle, due to lack of use or disease.
- Smooth muscle
Involuntary, nonstriated muscle found in walls of hollow organs and blood vessels.
