WEEK 2 Basic clinical monitoring Flashcards
Basic clinical monitoring (17 cards)
What is Clinical Monitoring?
The identification and monitoring of deteriorating patients are crucial for timely intervention and appropriate medical care.
Continuous assessment of vital signs, symptoms, and overall clinical status helps healthcare professionals detect signs of deterioration early on.
Early intervention can lead to more effective treatment and improved outcomes for the patient.
What is Physiological reserve?
Different organ systems in the body contribute to physiological reserve. These include the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, musculoskeletal system, immune system, and more. Each system has its own reserve capacity
Physiological reserve is crucial for maintaining health and function throughout life. It helps individuals tolerate illness, surgery, physical exertion, and other stressors. It also plays a role in aging, as a decline in reserve capacity can lead to increased vulnerability to health problems
What are some examples of Physiological Reserve?
Cardiovascular Reserve
The heart’s ability to increase its pumping capacity to meet the increased oxygen demands during physical activity or in response to stress.
Pulmonary Reserve:
The lungs’ ability to increase oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide removal during exercise or in response to respiratory challenges.
Renal Reserve:
The kidneys’ ability to maintain electrolyte balance and filter waste products efficiently, even when one kidney is removed or damaged.
Immune Reserve:
The immune system’s capacity to mount a robust response to infections or other threats.
What Factors Influence Physiological Reserve?
Physiological reserve tends to decline with age, making older individuals more vulnerable to stressors.
Chronic diseases or conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, can reduce physiological reserve.
Healthy habits such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can help preserve and even enhance physiological reserve.
Genetic factors can influence an individual’s inherent physiological reserve.
Define Cellular injury
Cell damage, also known as cellular damage or cellular injury, refers to the harmful changes that occur within a cell when it is subjected to various stressors or insults. These stressors can include physical trauma, chemical exposure, infection, inflammation, lack of oxygen (hypoxia), radiation, and other harmful influences. Cell damage can occur in various tissues and organs of the body and can lead to a wide range of health issues, depending on the severity and location of the damage.
Define Reversible Cell Injury in cell damage
In this type of damage, cells can recover and return to their normal state if the stressors is removed. Examples include mild infections and short-term ischemia (lack of blood flow).
Define Irreversible Cell Injury in cell damage
Irreversible damage occurs when cells are unable to recover, leading to cell death. This can result from severe and prolonged stressors, such as extensive tissue damage or advanced diseases.
List some Mechanisms of Cell Damage
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals, can damage cell components like DNA, proteins, and lipids. Antioxidant systems help protect cells from oxidative stress.
Inflammatory responses can lead to cell damage, especially if the inflammation is chronic or excessive.
Exposure to toxins, drugs, or chemicals can directly harm cells. For example, alcohol can damage liver cells, and certain medications can cause kidney injury.
Physical trauma, such as a blunt force injury or a burn, can damage cells and tissues.
Pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites can invade cells, disrupt their function, and trigger immune responses that may lead to cell damage.
List some Consequences of Cell Damage
Cell damage can disrupt normal cellular functions, impairing tissue, and organ function.
In severe cases, cell death can occur, which can lead to tissue necrosis and organ dysfunction.
Chronic cell damage is often associated with the development of chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and neurodegenerative conditions.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation is a natural and complex biological response of the body to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens (e.g., bacteria, viruses), tissue injury, irritants, or damaged cells. It is a crucial part of the immune system’s defense mechanism and plays a pivotal role in protecting the body from infections and promoting tissue repair and healing.
Inflammation can be acute or chronic, and it involves a series of coordinated processes:
What is the Recognition of Harmful Stimuli
Inflammation begins when the immune system recognizes the presence of harmful stimuli. This recognition can occur through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) on immune cells, which detect specific molecular patterns associated with pathogens or tissue damage.
How does the Release of Inflammatory Mediators work.
Immune cells release signalling molecules called cytokines.
These include interleukins, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), and interferons, among others.
Cytokines play a central role in orchestrating the inflammatory response.
These molecules attract immune cells to the site of inflammation.
Prostaglandins are lipid compounds that promote inflammation and contribute to pain and fever.
Released by mast cells and basophils, histamines increase blood vessel permeability and cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to redness and swelling.
Define Vasodilation
In response to signalling molecules, blood vessels in the affected area dilate (widen). This allows increased blood flow to the site of inflammation, which brings immune cells, nutrients, and oxygen to aid in the defence and repair processes.
What is Increased Vascular Permeability
It is when Blood vessel walls become more permeable, allowing immune cells, antibodies, and proteins to pass from the bloodstream into the tissue where the inflammatory process is occurring
How does Migration of Immune Cells happen?
White blood cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, are recruited to the site of inflammation. These cells help identify and eliminate pathogens, clear cellular debris, and promote tissue repair.
What is Phagocytosis
When Immune cells engulf and digest foreign invaders, such as bacteria, as well as damaged or dead cells
What occurs during Resolution and Tissue Repair
Once the threat is neutralised and the damaged tissue is cleared, the inflammatory response gradually resolves. Anti-inflammatory molecules and immune cells, like regulatory T cells, help dampen the inflammation. Tissue repair and healing processes, such as the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and collagen deposition, then take place.
