Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
39 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Pathophysiology of asthma |
- Chronic airway inflammation triggered by pollen, allergies, and some chemicals. Typically diagnosed in childhood - Caused by bronchospasm, airway wall oedema and mucus plugging - This causes patients to present with wheeze, SOB and iWOB and is fully reversible with bronchodilators. These patients are symptom free between attacks |
|
|
Pathophysiology of COPD |
- An umbrella term of emphysema, chronic bronchitis and chronic asthma - COPD is typically caused by long term smoking, other causes include long term exposure to pollution such as fine dusts - COPD cannot be cured, however management plans can be put in place to slow it’s progression - Target Sp02 level for COPD patients is between 88%-92%, nebuliser bronchodilators are used to relieve exacerbation symptoms |
|
|
Pathophysiology of hyperventilation syndrome |
- Excess of 20 breaths/min often brought on by anxiety or panic attacks - Causes hypocarbia due to carbon dioxide being expelled too quickly - Alkaline levels in blood changes resulting in paraesthesia and chest pain - Resolved with breathing exercises to return Co2 to normal levels, transport is typically not required |
|
|
Pathophysiology of pulmonary embolism |
- An obstruction in the pulmonary vasculature (lungs), most commonly a blood clot - Workload of right ventricle increases, preload of left ventricle increases due to reduced output from right ventricle - Body tries to compensate by increasing heart rate - Often caused by inactivity (being bed bound, in surgery, long flights) - Hypotension and shock occur when left ventricle filling and cardiac output decrease |
|
|
Pathophysiology of Cardiogenic Pulmonary Oedema (CPO) |
- Caused by either heart failure or acute myocardial infarction - Tissue death and inability for left ventricle to pump effectively causes a build up of blood backing up into the lungs - As pressure increases in the blood vessels of the lungs, fluid leaks into alveoli in the lungs - This build up of fluid in the lungs causes cough producing frothy sputum and crackles in lower lobes - If there is death of right ventricle tissue, venous return is affected, causing fluid build up in the vena cava and legs. This causes pedal oedema |
|
|
Pathophysiology of STEMI |
- A rupture of plaque in the coronary artery. This causes a thrombus to form, partially or fully blocking supply of blood to the myocardium - STEMI shows ST segment elevation on an ECG, NSTEMI cannot be diagnosed in out of hospital setting and requires blood tests, however suspected NSTEMI should be treated as an MI until proven otherwise |
|
|
Pathophysiology of angina |
- Lack of adequate blood flow to the myocardium caused by narrowing, blockage, or spasm of coronary arteries - Stable angina: occurs with physical exertion or stress and is associated with increased oxygen demand, resolved with GTN - Unstable angina: less responsive to GTN, comes on at rest |
|
|
Pathophysiology of pericarditis |
- Inflammation if the pericardium which can occur after a viral or bacterial illness |
|
|
Pathophysiology of hypovolaemic shock |
- Inadequate intravascular volume (fluid or blood) caused by significant blood loss or severe dehydration |
|
|
Pathophysiology of anaphylactic shock |
- Inflammatory mediators, particularly histamine are released in response to severe allergic reaction - This causes vasodilation and impaired cardiac function |
|
|
Pathophysiology of septic shock |
- Inflammatory mediators are released in response to severe infection - This causes vasodilation and impaired cardiac function |
|
|
Pathophysiology of neurogenic shock |
- Sudden loss of signals from the sympathetic nervous system following spinal cord injury causing vasodilation below the site of injury |
|
|
Pathophysiology of hypoadrenal shock |
- Inadequate levels of circulating cortisol - Conditions such as Addison’s disease cause abnormal adrenal function resulting in reduced sympathetic response to illness and injury resulting in shock |
|
|
Pathophysiology of obstructive shock |
- Caused by a clinical condition causing obstruction of blood flow to or away from the heart - Eg: Pulmonary embolism, tension pneumothorax or cardiac tamponade |
|
|
Pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock |
- Caused by low cardiac output resulting in the heart being unable to pump adequately - Most commonly caused by MI |
|
|
Pathophysiology of hypoglycaemia |
- BGL lower than 3.5mmHg - Occurs due to excess insulin or lack of glucose in blood stream - These patients often have altered LOC and can be resolved with glucose administration - Caused include insulin overdose, inadequate food intake, renal failure, liver failure, and sepsis |
|
|
Pathophysiology of hyperglycaemia |
- BGL higher than 20mmHg - Occurs due to insufficient insulin levels, often involves dehydration, polyuria, thirst, decreased LOC - Causes often relate to non-compliance with insulin medication but also can be triggered by infection |
|
|
Pathophysiology of stroke |
- Can be either ischaemic (blockage caused by thrombus) or haemorrhagic (bleed in brain), ischaemic being most common - Any suspected stroke/TIA should be assessed with a FAST test |
|
|
Pathophysiology of DKA |
- Cells cannot absorb circulating glucose to do severe lack of insulin causing calls to starve - Body begins to burn fat and muscle to produce glucose, producing acidic ketones despite already high glucose levels in the blood - Almost always associated with type 1 diabetes, causes dehydration, abdo pain, nausea/vomiting and fruity odour on breath |
|
|
Pathophysiology of HONK |
- Similar to DKA however body still produces enough insulin to maintain without muscle and fat breakdown, ketosis does not occur - Can be first sign of type 2 diabetes and usually onsets over several days or weeks - Causes polyuria, hypertension, tachycardia, hypovolaemia, dehydration, often age over 60 |
|
|
Pathophysiology of seizures |
- Sudden inconsistent discharges of electrical activity in the brain - Some patients have indications of impending seizures from smells, senses, or memory - Common causes include fever (particularly children), hypoxia, epilepsy, drug use, or alcohol withdrawals |
|
|
Pathophysiology of syncope |
- Rapid and temporary loss of consciousness caused by lack of perfusion to the brain - Syncopal events have spontaneous full recovery and very low mortality rate - Thorough assessment is vital as syncopes can have potentially serious underlying causes |
|
|
Stages of shock |
- Compensating (5-10% blood volume loss): Mechanisms increase mildly (HR, RR, BP) - Decompensating (30% blood volume loss): Mechanisms begin to fail (lowered BP, fluctuating HR, arrhythmias, decreased Sp02, delayed CRT) - Irreversible (40+% blood volume loss): Cell death, organ failure, blood sludges, death |
|
|
Pathophysiology of TBI |
- A non-specific term describing blunt, penetrating, or blast injuries to the brain - Falls are most common cause of TBI, mainly in children or the elderly, MVAs are most fatal cause of TBI - Categorised as mild (GCS 13-15), moderate (GCS 9-12), or severe (GCS <9) - Consider and prevent secondary brain injury by managing the 4 H’s: - Hypoxia - Hypotension - Hypoventilation - Hyperventilation |
|
|
Pathophysiology of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) |
- When an area in the wall of the aortic artery is weak, it can widen and create a bulge, causing an aneurysm to develop - When this exceeds 5cm it is at risk of rupturing, causing severe internal bleeding, leading to hypovolaemic shock |
|
|
Pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes |
- Usually presents in childhood and onset is typically sudden - Usually caused by an autoimmune disorder in which the body produces antibodies which attack its own pancreatic beta cells, preventing them from producing insulin |
|
|
Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes |
- More common than type 1, predominantly found in obese adults over 30, often due to poor diet/poor lifestyle - Occurs when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin or the cells of the body are resistant to the insulin being produced |
|
|
Pathophysiology of gallstones |
- Stone-like substances formed by grouping masses of cholesterol or calcium salts in the gallbladder - Typically sit inactive in the gall bladder, however symptoms are often more severe after eating fatty foods as the gall bladder excretes bile to break down food in the GI tract. This can cause stones to become lodged in the bile duct, resulting in pain |
|
|
Pathophysiology of appendicitis |
- Inflammation or infection of the appendix commonly caused by bacteria being trapped in the appendix by food particles or faecal matter - Sits in RLQ |
|
|
BATOMI |
- Behaviour - Affect, appearance, mood - Thought and talk - Orientation - Memory - Intellect and insight |
|
|
Pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia |
- Gestational hypertension is present (BP >140/90) - Caused by poor implantation of placenta or abnormalities of placental vessels - Can result in foetal growth restriction and lead to eclampsia |
|
|
Pathophysiology of eclampsia |
- Patient with pre-eclampsia has at least 1 gestational seizure, thought to be due to severe intracranial hypertension |
|
|
Pathophysiology of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) |
- At least 500ml of blood loss following birth - Can occur up to 6 weeks following birth, this is considered late/secondary PPH (24hr-6 weeks following birth) |
|
|
Pathophysiology of croup |
- Viral infection causing inflammation and oedema to the upper respiratory tract, narrowing airway around the larynx region - Significantly narrowed airway leads to stridor |
|
|
Pathophysiology of decompression sickness |
- Type 1: If divers ascent is too fast and change in pressure is too rapid, nitrogen cannot be eliminated by lungs and accumulate in bloodstream and cells as bubbles. During ascent partial pressure of nitrogen drops and dissolved nitrogen comes out of bloodstream - Type 2: Similar to type 1 however more severe and has neurological effects |
|
|
Pathophysiology of smoke inhalation |
- When smoke or dry air in fire is inhaled it rapidly dissipates in the upper airway resulting in airway oedema and stridor |
|
|
AEIOUTIPS |
Assessment tool for patients with an altered LOC: A- Alcohol E- Epilepsy I- Insulin O- Overdose U- Uraemia T- Trauma I- Infection P- Poisoning S- Stroke/syncope |
|
|
Pathophysiology of anaphylaxis |
- A rapid onset multi-system severe allergic reaction, usually involving skin features such as rash, itch, redness and at least 1 other body system (respiratory, cardiovascular, GI)
- Exposure to allergens causes release of inflammatory mediators, particularly histamine from mast cells which causes vasodilation, bronchospasm and impaired cardiac function |
|
|
Pathophysiology of meningococcal septicaemia |
- An uncommon bloodstream infection in which bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, causing damage to the walls of blood vessels causing bleeding into skin and organs |
