medical emergencies

Question 1

cardiopulmonary arrest(CPA) is the

Answer 1

cessation (stop) of funtional ventilation and effective circulation

cardio = heart = circulation
pulmonary = lungs/breathing = ventilation
arrest = not working/stops

Question 2

if an anml exps sudden gasps, are they having effective ventilation or breathing?

Answer 2

NO
- gasps DO NOT mean anml has proper ventilation

Question 3

clinical signs of CPA

Answer 3

• absence of auscultable HB
• lack of palpable pulse (cant feel)
• apnea (stops) or agonal (abnormal) gasping
• loss of consciousness
• pupillary dilation

Question 4

T/F
patients who were NOT HEALTHY before CPA is NOT likely to survive/successfully resuscitated

Answer 4

TRUE
- healthy anml = high survival
- unhealthy anml = low survival

Question 5

what should alr be in crash cart to reduce time in EM during CPA

Answer 5

cardiac drugs alr drawn up in syringes

Question 6

ABCDs of CPR

Answer 6

Airway
breathing
circulation
drugs/defibrillation

Question 7

what is the most impnt part before even beginning CPR

Answer 7

make sure patient has o2
- all subsequent efforts = futile if patient has no o2

Question 8

as soon as vet determines CPA, patient should be

Answer 8

intubated (for o2)
- make sure endotracheal tube = in trachea
- cuff = inflated, secured, w/visible marker for monitoring

Question 9

what should be done if intubation is not feasible during CPA

Answer 9

Emergency tracheostomy immediately