Triage

Question 1

Define triage

Answer 1

“To sort”

Sorting patients based on our assessment of them into the order that they need to be seen

Question 2

Why is triage necessary?

Answer 2

Limited resources (time, personnel, space, supplies/equipment)

Question 3

T/F: When triaging, it is important to perform a full neurologic exam

Answer 3

False - abbreviated - where you assess mentation or seizure activity

Question 4

3 major organs involved in triaging

Answer 4

Heart
Brain
Lungs

Question 5

With practice, how long should a true triage assessment take?

Answer 5

1 minute

Question 6

Define dull

Answer 6

Responds w less vigor than normal

Question 7

Define stuporous

Answer 7

Only respond to noxious stimuli (Ex. Poking in the eye, bumping a fractured leg)

Question 8

Define comatose

Answer 8

No response whatsoever

Question 9

Define demented

Answer 9

Responds inappropriately to stimuli

Question 10

Respiratory assessment looks at

Answer 10

Effort & Rate

Question 11

What is the most important piece of equipment for the cardiovascular assessment?

Answer 11

Thermometer - assesses perfusion

Question 12

Normal dog and cat HR

Answer 12

Dog: 60-120bpm
Cat: 180-240bpm

Question 13

What heart rate changes should you look for when triaging dogs vs. cats?

Answer 13

Dogs - tachycardia
Cats - bradycardia

Question 14

What is one of the first identifiers of hypotension that you can get during your triage?

Answer 14

Elevated HR

Question 15

When in shock, cats tend to become __________

Answer 15

Bradycardic - may be d/t decompensation?

Question 16

Where does the color in your gums come from?

Answer 16

Hemoglobin (specifically, oxyhemoglobin)

Question 17

What does a CRT of <1 second indicate?

Answer 17

Vasodilation

Question 18

Normal CRT

Answer 18

1-2 seconds

Question 19

T/F: All mentation changes are attributable to a primary brain problem

Answer 19

False - Mentation is affected by perfusion to the brain

Question 20

Why do we care more about hypothermia than a fever?

Answer 20

Indicates poor perfusion - shunting blood away from the periphery to maintain blood flow to the core

Question 21

Two patients present to the ER at the exact same time. How do you decide who to treat first?

Answer 21

Triage both patients to assess who needs to be seen more urgently.

Question 22

What are the three major body assessments performed during a triage?

Answer 22

Neurologic assessment
Cardiovascular assessment
Respiratory assessment

Question 23

A happy, bouncy Labrador rolls through the doors of your ER 10 minutes after his owner watched him swallow a pair of underwear. During your triage, you note his temperature to be 103.2F, CRT <1s, and MM bright pink. Discuss how this dog might triage on an extremely busy day.

Answer 23

Obviously the dog needs to be seen b/c we wanna get those undies out, but based on his mentation, energy levels, and attitude, I am less concerned about the hyperthermia, shortened CRT, and MM.