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Emergency care 13th edition > Chapter 19 > Flashcards

Flashcards in Chapter 19 Deck (33)
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1
Q

reticular activating system (RAS)

A

series of neurologic circuits in the brain that control the functions of staying awake, paying attention, and sleeping

2
Q

oxygen is needed to ______ brain tissue?

A

perfuse

oxygen is needed to perfuse brain tissue (oxygenate)

3
Q

glucose is needed to _______ brain tissue?

A

nourish

glucose is needed to nourish brain tissue

4
Q

water is needed to _____ brain tissue

A

hydrate

water is needed to hydrate brain tissue

5
Q

lack of water, O2, glucose leads to_____?

A

altered mental status

6
Q

substance abuse can also harm _____?

A

brain tissue

7
Q

safety when treating a patient under an altered mental status

A

keeping your self, and team safe prior to approaching.

use law enforcement if necessary

8
Q

one of the most common causes of altered mental status

A

hypoxia

9
Q

Signs of hypo perfusion

A

tachycardia
pulsless
pale diaphoretic skin
delayed capillary refill time

10
Q

glucose and insulin

A

glucose by itself is too large to pass on to a cell, it requires insulin to do so.

insulin binds to receptors and allows the large glucose molecule to pass into the cells

11
Q

pancreas

A

secretes insulin when the blood sugar levels rise above 90 mg/dl

12
Q

islets of Langerhans

A

specialized clusters of cells secrete insulin

  • brain cells do not need insulin to move glucose from the bloodstream
  • most other body cells need insulin to process the glucose

glucose/insulin described as (lock and key)

13
Q

diabetes mellitus

A

also known as diabetes

14
Q

type 1 diabetes

A

occurs when the pancreatic cell fails to function properly and insulin is not secreted normally
(generally prescribed synthetic insulin)

(formerly known as insulin dependent diabetes)

15
Q

type 2 diabetes

A

(formerly known as non insulin dependent diabetes)

occurs when the body fails to use insulin properly.
-pancreas creates insulin but the body can not transfer glucose through the insulin produced

-can be controlled by diet and oral antidiabetic medications

16
Q

hypoglycemia

A

low blood sugar
this is the most common emergency for diabetes

caused by the following

  • too much insulin
  • reduced sugar intake by not eating
  • uses glucose too quickly (over exertion)
  • vomits a meal
  • increase of metabolic rate
17
Q

hyperglycemia

A

high blood sugar

normally caused by a decrease in insulin, which leaves sugar in the bloodstream rather than helping it into the cells

  • signs
  • patient might complain of chronic thirst or hunger
  • increased urine (body trying to get rid of the excess sugar)
  • dry mouth
  • intense thirst
  • abdominal pain
  • vomiting
18
Q

side effects of hyperglycemia

blood sugar in high 100’s

A

-high blood sugar causes water to be drawn from the bodies cells, potentially resulting in profound dehydration

19
Q

diabetic ketoacidosis

A

condition caused by high blood sugar

effects of high blood sugar

  • dehydration
  • altered mental status
  • shock
20
Q

diabetic children

A
  • more at risk than diabetic adults.
  • exhaust blood sugar levels quicker than adults, especially if their insulin was taken.
  • less disciplined to eat proper, and on time.

(more risk of hypoglycemia)

21
Q

blood glucose meter

A

portable blood glucose meters

used up to 6 times a day

22
Q

blood sugar of less than 60 mg/dl

A

typical of hypoglycemia and should be quickly administered glucose

23
Q

blood sugar of less than 50 mg/dl

A

patients with this low of blood sugar can cause unresponsive and altered mental status

24
Q

potentials of wrong blood sugar reading

A

if a reading comes in at 25mg/dl and the patient is alert and aware, there would be cause for concern to believe that the reading is wrong.

  • glucose meter needs calibration
  • not enough blood on the test strip
  • expired test strips
25
Q

meter reading “High”

A

if the meter reads high, and doesn’t give a numeric result the patient is in excess of roughly 500 mg/dl (extreme)

26
Q

meter reading “low”

A

if reading low, patient is roughly less than 15mg/dl (extreme)

27
Q

intranasal glucagon

A

when patients are unable to safely swallow oral glucose, when EMS systems allow intranasal glucose can be administered.

-glucose is put into an atomizer device and administered into nostril

28
Q

sepsis

A

infection, a severe system wide infection

29
Q

3 types of infections

A
  • respiratory infection (pneumonia)
  • urinary tract infections (UTI)
  • skin/wound infections
30
Q

evidence of severe sepsis

A
  • altered mental status
  • increased heart rate
  • increased respiratory rate
  • low blood pressure
  • high blood glucose level
  • decreased capillary refill time
31
Q

patients unaltered mental status with history of an infection

A

always consider severe sepsis

32
Q

hyperglycemic patients frequently breath______?

A

-very deeply and rapidly, as though they have just run a race

33
Q

common symptoms of hyperglycemia

A
  • dry mouth
  • intense thirst
  • abdominal pain
  • vomiting