Medical emergencies in medical imaging Flashcards
(18 cards)
Shock
Failure of circulation in which blood pressure is inadequate to support oxygen perfusion of vital tissues.
Early signs of shock
- Restlessness
- confusion
- Anxiety
Late signs of shock
- Increased pulse rate
- Pallor
- Weakness
- A change in thinking ability
- Drop in blood pressure
Types of shock
- Hypovolemic
- Neurogenic
- Cardiogenic
- Septic
- Anaphylactic
- Psychological
Hypovolemic shock
Occurs when there is significance loss of blood leading to insufficient blood volume in the body.
Causes of hypovolemic shock
- Severe bleeding
- Dehydration
- Burns
Symptoms of hypovolemic shock
- Rapid heartbeat
- Quick, shallow breathing
- Weakness or fatigue
- Confusion or dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Cool, clammy skin
- Little or no urine output
Cardiogenic shock
Condition where the heart suddenly can’t pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs
Causes of cardiogenic shock
- Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle.
- Endocarditis: Infection of the heart valves.
- Pulmonary embolism: A blockage in the pulmonary artery.
- Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats.
- Drug overdose or poisoning
Symptoms of cardiogenic shock
- Rapid breathing
- Severe shortness of breath
- Sudden, rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Weak pulse
- Sweating
- Pale skin
- Cold hands or feet
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
Neurogenic shock
is a serious condition that occurs when there is a sudden loss of sympathetic nervous system signals to the smooth muscle in blood vessel walls.
Causes of neurogenic shock
- Spinal cord injury: Particularly injuries to the cervical or upper thoracic spine.
- Traumatic brain injury: Severe head trauma can disrupt autonomic pathways.
- Spinal anesthesia: Can sometimes lead to neurogenic shock.
Anaphylactic shock
It is a form of anaphylaxis, where the immune system overreacts to an allergen, releasing chemicals that cause the body to go into shock.
causes of anaphylactic shock
- Certain foods
- Medications
- Insect stings
- Latex
Symptoms of anaphylactic shock
- Difficulty breathing
- Low blood pressure
- Rapid or weak pulse.
- Skin reactions
- Swelling
- Confusion or loss of consciousness
septic shock
occurs as a result of sepsis, which is the body’s extreme response to an infection. It leads to dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure
Causes of septic shock
Bacterial infections: The most common cause.
Viral infections.
Fungal infections.
symptoms of septic shock
- Very low blood pressure.
- Rapid heart rate.
- Confusion or disorientation.
- Shortness of breath.
- Cool, pale extremities.
- Decreased urine output.
- Skin rash
