Chapter 33 Geriatric Emergencies

Question 1

A simple rib fracture in a 40 year old can be inconsequential but the same injury in a patient who is 80 or 90 can lead to?

Answer 1

Pneumonia and even a deadly secondary lung infection

Question 2

What are the most common conditions of geriatric patients?

Answer 2

Hypertension
Diagnosed Arthritis
Heart Disease
Cancer
Diabetes
Sinusitis

Question 3

What are the leading causes of death in geriatric patients?

Answer 3

Heart Disease
Cancer
Stroke
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Pneumonia and Influenza
Diabetes Trauma

Question 4

What does GEMS stand for? and NO it does not mean gender ethnic and multicultural studies

Answer 4

Geriatric
Environmental
Medical
Social

Question 5

What is the leading cause of death among Americans older than 65 years?

Answer 5

PNEUMONIA which is an inflammation/infection of the lung from bacterial, viral, or fungal causes

Question 6

What are the signs and symptoms of pneumonia?

Answer 6

Exertional Dyspnea
Productive cough
Chest discomfort and pain
Wheezing
Headache
Nausea and vomiting
Musculoskeletal pain
Weight loss
Confusion

Question 7

How is the patient’s heart rate if they have pneumonia?

Answer 7

The patient’s heart rate is tachycardic, the blood pressure is possibly hypotensive

Question 8

What is the condition that causes a sudden blockage of an artery by a venous clot?

Answer 8

Pulmonary Embolism

Question 9

What does a patient with a pulmonary embolism complain of?

Answer 9

chest pain

Question 10

What is a unilateral pedal edema?

Answer 10

Swelling in just one ankle and foot

Question 11

What is Arteriosclerosis?

Answer 11

the stiffening of vessel walls

Question 12

What is Orthostatic Hypotension?

Answer 12

A drop in blood pressure with a change in position

Question 13

What is the condition that causes a reddish-brown discoloration on the skin and, in some cases, skin ulcers?

Answer 13

DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS

Question 14

What is DYSPNEA?

Answer 14

the feelings of shortness of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, is a common complaint in geriatric patients and is sometimes associated with a heart attack

Question 15

What is TACHYPNEA?

Answer 15

fast breathing

Question 16

What is CYANOTIC?

Answer 16

blue from insufficient oxygen

Question 17

What is a leading cause of death in the elderly?

Answer 17

Stroke

Question 18

What are the preventable risk factors regarding strokes?

Answer 18

Smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle

Question 19

What are the less preventable causes regarding strokes?

Answer 19

High cholesterol and hypertension

Question 20

What are the uncontrollable factors with stroke?

Answer 20

Cardiac disease and atrial fibrillation

Question 21

What are the signs and symptoms of stroke?

Answer 21

Acute altered level of consciousness, numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body; slurred speech; difficulty speaking (aphasia); visual disturbances; headache and dizziness; incontinence, and in worst cases, seizures

Question 22

What are cataracts?

Answer 22

clouding of the lenses or their surrounding membranes. they interfere with vision and make it difficult to distinguish colors and see clearly, increasing the likelihood of falls and accidents and accounting for some mistakes in taking medications

Question 23

What is PRESBYCUSIS?

Answer 23

Gradual hearing loss that occurs as we age

Question 24

What is DEMENTIA?

Answer 24

slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span and loss of cognitive function

Question 25

What is a common cause of dementia?

Answer 25

Alzheimer's Disease and affects nearly 4 million Americans

Question 26

What is NEUROPATHY?

Answer 26

a disorder of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system in which function and structure of the peripheral motor, sensory, and autonomic neurons are impaired

Question 27

People with PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE tend to complain of?

Answer 27

Gnawing, burning pain in the upper abdomen that improves after eating but returns later.

Question 28

What is the med term for the inflammation of the gallbladder?

Answer 28

CHOLECYSTITIS

Question 29

Older adults who use NSAIDS are more susceptible to what kind of disease that has complications such as bleeding, anemia, and bowel perforation?

Answer 29

PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE

Question 30

What kind of obstructions occur frequently in the geriatric population?

Answer 30

BOWEL obstructions

Question 31

What is HEPATOMEGALY?

Answer 31

Enlarged liver

Question 32

Patients with gastrointestinal problems present problems such as:

Answer 32

pal or yellow, thin skin; frail musculoskeletal system; peripheral, sacral, and periorbital edema; hypertension; fever; tachycardia; and dyspnea

Question 33

What is one of the most rapidly fatal conditions in regards to abdominal pains?

Answer 33

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM (TRIPLE A) tends to develop in people who have a history of hypertension and atherosclerosis

Question 34

What does a patient with triple A typically complain of?

Answer 34

abdominal pain radiating through to the back with occasional flank pain