acute care conditions Flashcards
(42 cards)
what is a SCI?
damage to the spinal cord which causes motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions
what are the symptoms of a SCI?
paralysis- tetraplegia or paraplegia
muscle weakness
loss of bowel/bladder control
numbness/ tingling in extremities
OH/AD
what is MS?
a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the CNS. The immune system attacks the myelin of neurons, making it difficult for the brain to send signals to the rest of the body.
what are the symptoms of MS?
ataxia
balance
bladder/ bowel problems
memory and concentration difficulties
sexual dysfunction
fatigue
vision problems
sensory impairment
depression
dizziness
tremor
neuropathic pain
weakness
spasticity
speech/ swallowing problems
how would an MS patient present?
visual problems- painful eye movements, double vision
sensory disturbances
weakness
balance problems
l’hermitte’s phenomenon- shooting back pain during neck flexion.
what are the types of MS?
- relapse remitting MS- symptoms develop over days and then plateau and improve over the next few days.
- primary progressive MS- gradual worsening in neurological function without remission periods.
- secondary progressive MS- relapse remitting MS develops into gradual progressive disease, with less frequent remissions over time.
what can physios do to treat MS?
reduce spasticity
increase muscle strength
increase mobility
correct posture
increase balance and coordination
what is Motor neuron disease?
neurodegenerative disorder which causes nerves in the spine and brain to lose function over time.
No cure, but treatment can help relieve symptoms and slow down progression.
what is MND classified into?
whether degeneration affects upper motor neurons or lower motor neurons or both.
UMN- hypertonia, hyperreflexia - spasticity, rigidity, clonus, babinski sign.
LMN- SCI
what is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ?
neurodegenerative condition which affects motor neurons which are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement.
Causes degeneration of both UMN and LMNs.
what are the symptoms of ALS?
muscle weakness and atrophy - leads to paralysis
speech and swallowing difficulties
respiratory problems
cognitive and behavioural changes
emotional and psychological impact
what can physios do to treat ALS?
ROM exercises, respiratory exercises, maintaining independence, spending time out of bed, reducing dependency, essential mobility, spasticity management, falls risk.
what is Guillain-Barre syndrome?
autoimmune condition which affects the peripheral nervous system. The immune system attacks the myelin of peripheral nerves resulting in axonal degeneration.
GBS can develop after a upper respiratory tract bacterial or viral infection- body attacks own cells rather than infection.
what are the symptoms of GBS?
symmetrical bilateral weakness
sensory loss
impacts respiratory muscles
greater loss of motor function than sensory function
pins and needles sensation
inability to walk
loss of balance
inability to feel textures, heat, pain sensations in limbs
loss of reflexes
difficulty controlling bowel and bladder functions
what is cystic fibrosis?
a genetic disorder that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system, leading to severe respiratory and gastrointestinal complications.
Characterised by thick sticky mucus which obstructs the airways and creates an environment for chronic bacterial infections.
what are the clinical features of CF?
productive cough
shortness of breath
mucus production
malnutrition
poor growth
diabetes mellitus due to pancreatic damage
infertility in males- absence of vas deferens
what can physios do to treat CF?
airway clearance techniques- ABCT, positioning, percussion.
medical management- DNASE, IV antibiotics, nutritional support, lung transplant.
what is bronchiectasis?
chronic respiratory condition characterised by the permanent dilation of the bronchi and destruction of the bronchial walls.
damage to bronchial walls- elasticity- repeated infections and inflammation-> bronchial walls lose ability to clear mucus so mucus accumulates.
permanent dilation- persistent inflammation and destruction of component of wall causing dilation.
Mucus accumulation -> breeding ground for bacteria -> recurrent infections and damage.
what are the symptoms of bronchiectasis?
chronic cough
sputum production
recurrent respiratory infections
hemoptysis- coughing blood
shortness of breath
chest pain
fatigue
fever
weight loss
what treatments are available for bronchiectasis?
antibiotics
bronchodilators - open airways + improve airflow
corticosteroids - reduce inflammation
postural drainage
ACBT
smoking cessation
what is asthma?
chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterised by episodes of airflow obstruction and bronchospasm- affecting the bronchi and bronchioles leading to airflow obstruction.
persistent inflammation of airways -> swelling and hyperactivity of airways which become overly responsive to triggers eg. allergens, cold air. This exposure causes tightening of smooth muscles of the airways -> bronchoconstriction and airflow obstruction.
Increased production of mucus -> further narrowing of airways.
what are the symptoms of asthma?
wheezing
shortness of breath
chest tightness
worsen with exposure to triggers.
how is asthma treated?
spirometry- FEV1
bronchodilators
corticosteroids
inhalers- salbutamol
avoid triggers
peak flow meters to monitor lung condition
what is pneumonia?
an infection which causes inflammation of the lung parenchyma- functional tissue of the lungs.
caused by bacteria, virus or fungi it can affect one or both lungs.
severity ranges from mild to life-threatening.
Pneumonia infection enters respiratory tract and reaches alveoli. The immune system responds with an inflammatory cascade to destroy the infection. Inflammation -> thickened alveolar walls filled with fluid-> consolidation of lung. Inflammation + consolidation -> hypoxia and respiratory distress as exchange of O2 and CO2 in alveoli is disrupted.
