WEEK 8 - an acutely unwell patient Flashcards
cardiac output equation
CO = HR x stroke volume
BP equation
BP = CO x systemic vascular resistance
In a normal physiological state:
Increased blood volume stimulates _________ in the aortic arch and carotid sinuses to _______ their firing. This stimulates cardio-_______ centres, whilst also inhibiting cardio–__________ centres and vasomotor centres. The net effect is to __________ heart rate and stroke volume, hence cardiac output; as well as increasing vasodilation in order to restore homeostasis
Decreased blood volume stimulates ___________ in the aortic arch and carotid sinuses to _________ their firing. This stimulates cardio-acceleratory centres and vasomotor centres, whilst inhibiting cardio-inhibitory centres. This increases heart rate and stroke volume (hence cardiac output), as well as increasing vasoconstriction; in order to restore homeostasis
- baroreceptors
- increase
- inhibitory
- acceleratory
- decrease
- baroreceptors
- decrease
vasodilators or vasoconstrictors?
- adrenaline
- angiotensin II
- adenosine
- ATP
- mechanism increased CA ion conc within vascular smooth muscle
- mechanism calcium ion sequestration within vascular smooth muscle via reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and expulsion across the plasma membrane
alpha 1 receptors location and effect of stimulation
heart, liver, smooth muscle
— vasoconstriction, intestinal relaxation, uterine contraction, pupillary dilatation
alpha 2 receptor location and effect of stimulation
vascular smooth muscle, neurones, pancreatic islet cells, and on platelets
—> vasoconstriction, inhibition of noradrenaline release, insulin secretion, platelet aggregation
beta 1 receptors location and effect of stimulation
heart
tachycardia
beta 2 receptors location and effect of stimulation
lungs, GIT, liver, uterus, vascular smooth muscle and skeletal muscle
—> bronchodilation, smooth muscle relaxation, sphincter constriction
beta 3 receptors location and effect of stimulation
fat cells
lipolysis
Which pathologies are relevant to the right hypochondrium abdominal quadrant (RH)?
- acute hepatitis
- biliary colic
- cholangitis
- cholecystitis
- pneumonia (referred pain)
Which pathologies are relevant to the left hypochondrium abdominal quadrant (LH)?
- pneumonia (referred pain)
- splenomegaly
- splenic abscess
- splenic infarction
- splenic rupture
Which pathologies are relevant to the epigastrium abdominal quadrant (E)?
- acute MI
- acute/chronic pancreatitis
- GORD
- peptic ulcer
Which pathologies are relevant to the right iliac fossa abdominal quadrant (RIF)?
- appendicitis
- hernias
- renal calculi
Which pathologies are relevant to the left iliac fossa abdominal quadrant (LIF)?
- diverticulitis
- hernias
- renal calculi
Which pathologies are relevant to the hypogastrium (suprapubic region) abdominal quadrant (H)?
- bladder retention
- cystitis
Which pathologies are relevant to diffuse abdominal pain?
Acute/Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia
Adrenal Insufficiency
Bowel Obstruction
Constipation
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Ketoacidosis
Perforation of Gastrointestinal Tract
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Viral Gastroenteritis
What validated tool can be used to screen for frailty?
Rockwood Frailty Score
sepsis 6 summary
take 3 give 3
take — VBG for lactate, urine output and blood culture
give — IV fluids, IV antibiotics, oxygen
what is septic shock?
sepsis with persistent hypotension despite fluid correction and inotropes and a serum lactate of greater than 2mmol/L
what could be source of infections be in the CNS?
- meningitis
- encephalitis
- cerebral or epidural abscesses
- discitis
what could be source of infections be in the integumentary (skin/soft tissue) ?
- cellulitis
- infected bites/ulcers/wounds
- necrotising fasciitis
what could be source of infections be in the genitourinary tract?
- cystitis
- pyelonephritis
- obstructed renal calculus
what could be source of infections be in the GIT?
- gallbladder infections (cholecytitis, cholangitis)
- diverticulitis
- infective colitis
- appendicitis
- tonsillitis
what orthopaedic things could be source of infections?
- septic arthritis
- prosthetic joint infections
in patients with sepsis, what is initial fluid resuscitation with?
a crystalloid given as a bolus over less than 15 minutes
eg. 500mL of 0.9% sodium chloride
500 mL of Hartmann’s solution over 10 minutes
what can IV fluid be divided into?
crystalloids and colloids
crystalloids vs colloids
Crystalloids are solutions containing small molecules in water (e.g. sodium chloride, glucose, Hartmann’s)
Colloids are solutions with large molecular weight substances (e.g. albumin, gelatins)
what is raised lactate a sign of>
Lactate is raised as a result of tissue hypoxia in sepsis; as a result of widespread systemic inflammation, there is organ hypoperfusion and subsequently the cells turn to anaerobic metabolism, which produce lactate. A raised lactate of > 4.0mmol/L is considered a high risk criteria for sepsis (these patients are at high risk of deterioration)
what does this ecg show?
tall, tented T waves, and broad QRS complexes (>0.12ms), with no discernible P waves
These are all ECG changes seen in hyperkalaemia
what can hyperkalaemia be due to?
Hyperkalaemia can be due to several causes:
- Reduced renal excretion of potassium
- Increased circulating serum potassium – this can be exogenous (from potassium supplementation) or endogenous (tumour lysis syndrome, rhabdomyolysis, burns)
- Pseudohyperkalaemia – where there isn’t a true elevation in serum potassium; suspect this and repeat bloods as soon as possible for serum potassium in patients with isolated, unexpected blood results of hyperkalaemia who are well and have no ECG signs, as it may be due to test tube haemolysis or prolonged torniquet time
Of those listed, it is most often due to acute renal failure and medications (e.g. ACE-inhibitors) in hospitalised patients.
hyperkalaemia treatment: Most guidelines suggest urgent treatment when serum potassium exceeds ____, and/or there are ___ changes.
- 6.5
- ECG
what are the 3 priorities with regards to management of acute hyperkalaemia?
- Protecting the cardiac membrane – IV calcium gluconate acts by reducing membrane excitatory effects of K on cardiac tissue rapidly, therefore reducing the potential for cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, but has minimal effect on lowering serum K concentrations.
- Shifting potassium intracellularly – give 10 units Insulin with 25g glucose (an example of a treatment regime for this would be 10 units Actrapid in 250mls of 10% dextrose at 50ml/hr for 5 hours (25g)). You will see in some guidelines the recommendation of 50ml 50% Dextrose over 15minutes however this requires a central line and risks extravasation and tissue damage if used peripherally. This regime is generally avoided in clinical practise and it should only be used after senior advise if there are concerns about the volume of fluid you are giving patients who are fluid overloaded. Nebulised salbutamol 10 – 20mg is also given alongside insulin and glucose in severe, life-threatening hyperkalaemia (Avoid salbutamol if tachyarrhythmia present)
- Stopping any contributing medications – such as ACE-inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics.
In 2020, NICE approved the use of potassium binders (_______give 2 examples______ ), which act by _______________, for managing hyperkalaemia in adults. However, these medications have specific additional criteria for their usage, and should only be instituted in the emergency setting alongside standard care
- sodium zirconium cyclosilicate and patiromer
- promoting potassium excretion
what are the kidneys main functions?
- filter and excrete nitrogenous waste products
- Maintain acid-base balance, by controlling reabsorption and excretion of electrolytes (e.g., sodium, potassium, chloride, etc.)
- Produce certain hormones (erythropoietin, renin, calcitriol)
Among the kidneys’ waste products, ___________, in particular, is a useful marker of glomerular filtration because it is completely filtered in the glomerulus. When there is damage to the kidneys, __________ levels rise.
creatinine
what is GFR proportional to?
1/creatinine