Medical Emergencies

Question 1

The medical emergencies most likely occur in the Radiology Department
not necessarily related to trauma are: 6

Answer 1

shock,
anaphylaxis,
diabetic reactions,
cerebral vascular accidents,
cardiac and respiratory failure ,
fainting and convulsions

Question 2

THE RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST ROLE:
In most cases, the first action an RT will take in a life threatening
emergency is

Answer 2

1. To call the hospital emergency team, the physician conducting the
   procedure, and his colleagues for assistance.
2. He must learn the correct procedure in the institution in which he/she
   works from calling the hospital emergency team.
3. He must have the telephone number memorized and prepared to
   explain the exact location of the emergency and the problem

Question 3

physiologic reactions to illness or
trauma in which there is a
disturbance of blood flow to the
vital organs or decreased ability of
the body tissues to use oxygen and
other nutrients needed to
maintain them in healthy state.

Answer 3

Shock

Question 4

Major classes of shock: 5

Answer 4

1. Hypovolemic shock
2. Septic shock
3. Cardiogenicd shock
4. Neurogenic shock
5. Anaphylactic shock

Question 5

General Symptoms of shock includes:
1. Decrease temperature
2. A weak thready pulse
3. A rapid heart beat
4. Rapid shallow respirations
5. Hypotension
6. Skin pallor
7. Cyanosis and increased thirst
8. Altered mental status

Question 6

caused by abnormally low volume of circulating
blood in the body.
- it maybe due to internal or external
hemorrhage; loss of plasma because of burns;
fluid loss from prolonged vomiting or diarrhea;
heat prostration; or insufficient release of anti-
diuretic hormone

Answer 6

Hypovolemic shock

Question 7

Cardiac and respiratory failure will follow if this condition is allowed to
continue.

Answer 7

hypovolemic shock

Question 8

caused by severe systemic infections and bacteria (bacterial endotoxins
released in the bloodstream). Symptoms progress somewhat differently
from those other types of shock

Answer 8

Septic shock

Question 9

caused by a failure of the heart to pump an adequate amount of blood
to the vital organs

Answer 9

cardiogenic shock

Question 10

occurs when concussion, spinal cord injury ,
psychic trauma, or spinal anesthesia causes
abnormal dilatation of the peripheral blood
vessels. This dilatation in turns causes a fall in
blood pressure as blood pools in the veins.
This leads to reduced cardiac output

Answer 10

neurogenic shock

Question 11

a life threatening type of allergic reaction .
- it is the result of exaggerated
hypersensitivity reaction (allergic reaction)
to an antigen that was previously
encountered by body’s immune system.

Answer 11

anaphylactic shock

Question 12

seen in diabetics who have injected too much insulin, causing
severe hypoglycemia (low blood-sugar levels)

Answer 12

insulin shock

Question 13

commonly known as fainting

Answer 13

psychogenic shock

Question 14

• in early stages the skin is warm dry and flushed then the skin becomes cold and clammy

Answer 14

septic shock

Question 15

Urine output may be normal or excessive.
3. The patient have chills as shock progress, there may be an abrupt
personality change or a decrease in the level on consciousness .
4. There is an increase in pulse and respiration and a decrease in urinary
output.

Answer 15

septic shock

Question 16

• Scale used to initially assess a
  patient’s mental status

Answer 16

AVPU scale ( Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive )

Question 17

place patient in a semi-fowler’s position

Answer 17

cardiogenic shock

Question 19

Insufficient blood supply due to dehydration, bleeding or swelling.
2. A poor blood supply to the heart, where there is not enough oxygen
and other nutrients for its work.
3. Poor lung function or obstruction to blood flow in the lungs, which
places a strain on the heart muscle
4. Too many or too few electrolytes (eg. potassium, magnesium) that
cause irregular heartbeats or dangerous rhythms in the heart.
5. Weakness of blood vessel walls.
6. Heart muscle weaknes

Answer 19

cardiogenic shock

Question 21

for cardiogenic shock take vital signs every __ minutes

Answer 21

5-10

Question 22

altered conscious state
restlessness or irritability
pale or bluish, cool moist skin
excessive thirst
rapid and weak pulse
rapid breathing
nausea and/or vomitting

Answer 22

hypovolemic shock

Question 23

Damage to the spinal cord can cause
significant injury to the part of the
nervous system that controls the size
and muscle tone of blood vessels. If
the smooth muscle in the blood
vessels is cut off from its impulses to
contract, then the vessels dilate
widely, increasing the size and capacity
of the vascular system. The blood in
the body can no longer fill the
enlarged vessels, which results in
___

Answer 23

inadequate perfusion and neurogenic
shock.

Question 24

1. Hypotension and Bradycardia
2. Initial alertness unless the patient is unconscious because of head
   injury.
3. Initially good, but deteriorating, tissue perforation.
4. Visible signs of poor tissue perforation; coolness of extremities and
   diminishing peripheral pulses

Answer 24

neurogenic shock

Question 25

- The reaction is accompanied by contraction of non vascular smooth muscles, particularly the smooth muscles of the respiratory system. - The common causes of— are drugs, iodinated contrast agents , chemotherapeutic agents, anesthetics ,certain foods and venoms entering the body.

Answer 25

anaphylactic shock

Question 26

1. Itching at the site of a medication injection or around the eyes and nose. 2. Sneezing and coughing. 3. Apprehensiveness, a feeling of doom 4. Nausea , vomiting , and diarrhea ; usually accompanies a reaction to food

Answer 26

anaphylactic shock

Question 28

Late symptoms: 1.Angioneurotic edema of the face, hands, and other body parts; urticaria. 2.Choking, wheezing or dyspnea and cyanosis. 3. Hypotension; weak, rapid pulse; and dilated pupils.

Answer 28

anaphylactic shock

Question 29

Keep the____ readily available and correctly prepared whenever an iodinated contrast medium is being administered. Before starting any procedure that involves the use of iodinated contrast medium.

Answer 29

emergency cart

Question 30

People who know they are susceptible to anaphylaxis should carry emergency kits that contain an injection of _____, a rapidly acting hormone that reverses the effects of anaphylactic shock.

Answer 30

epinephrine