Medical Emergencies Part 1 (RADS

White emergency code

security/violence/weapons/hostage

pink emergency code

infant/child abduction

red emergency code

fire

Grey emergency code

severe weather

black emergency code

Bomb threat

yellow emergency code

disaster/mass casualty

blue emergency code

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Orange emergency code

hazardous material

silver emergency code

active shooter

Patients come to radiology department in poor physical condition due to:

injury

illness

lengthy preparation for a radiological procedure

Radiographers must be able to

asses the patients condition should there be a change resulting in the need for emergency medical assistance

Emergency Equipment

-crash cart

-oxygen

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

rapid neurological assessment tool that addresses 3 areas of neurologic functioning and quickly gives an overview of patients level of responsiveness

3 areas of Glasgow Coma Scale

eye opening, motor response, verbal response

Another indicator of patient's condition is...

a change in level of consciousness (LOC)

how to asses LOC quickly

-ask the patient to state his or her: name, date, address, and reason for coming to the radiology department

-note the patients ability to follow directions

-assess vital signs

2 divisions of the autonomic nervous system

parasympathetic and sympathetic division

parasympathetic nervous system

concerned with activities that restore & conserve energy; dominates during non stressful situations

sympathetic nervous system

concerned with processes involving the expenditure of energy; dominates during stressful situations, body becomes very alert and perform feats of unusual strength

-fight or flight

Shock

the body's pathological reaction to illness, trauma, or severe physiologic or emotional stress

-life threatening and may occur without warning and rapidly

Shock was caused by:

body fluid loss, cardiac failure, decreased tone of the blood vessels, obstruction of blood flow to vital organs

Compensatory stage of shock

During shock, blood is shunted away from the organs to accommodate the brains and hearts need for O2

Compensatory stage of shock symptoms

skin is cold and clammy

urine output is decreased

respiration increases

bowel sounds are hypoactive

blood pressure decreases and pulse rate increases

anxiety level increases

Progressive Stage of shock symptoms

-BP decreases significantly

-respirations shallow and rapid

-pulmonary edema

-tachycardia (150 bpm)

-chest pain

-mental status changes

-renal, hepatic, GI, hematologic problems occur

Irreversible stage of shock

Organ systems suffer irreparable damage and recovery is unlikely

Irreversible stage of shock symptoms

-low blood pressure

-renal & liver failure

-release of necrotic tissue toxins and overwhelming lactic acidosis

hypovolemic shock

a decrease in blood volume (15-25% or 750-1300 mL)

hypovolemic shock is caused by:

-internal or external hemorrhage

-loss of plasma from burns

-fluid loss fe prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or medications

signs of hypovolemic shock

patient may become thirsty, extremeties cold, skin cold and clammy, cyanosis starting at lips and nails

Radiographers response to hypovolemic shock

cardiogenic shock

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

patients most vulnerable to cardiogenic shock

-those hospitalized for MI (Myocardial Infarction)

-dysthymias

-other cardiac pathology: cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolism, arterial stenosis, pulmonary hypertension

infarct

death of tissue caused by lack of blood flow

cardiac tamponade

compression of the heart caused by blood or fluid accumulation in the space between the myocardium and pericardium. causes increased pressure on the heart preventing proper filling

Signs of cardiogenic shock

chest pain that radiates to jaw

cyanosis

rapid change in consciousness

dizziness/respiratory distress

restlessness/anxiety

irregular and slow pulse

decrease BP

decrease urinary output

cool/clammy skin

Radiographers response to cardiogenic shock

Distributive shock

a pooling of blood in the peripheral blood vessels

Distributive shock results in

-decreased venous return of blood to heart

-decreased blood pressure

-decreased tissue perfusion

3 types of distributive shock

neurogenic, anaphylactic, septic

Neurogenic shock

results from loss of sympathetic tone causing vasodilation of peripheral vessels

Neurogenic shock is caused by

spinal cord injury

-severe pain

-neurological damage

-depressant action of medication

-lack of glucose

-adverse effects of anesthesia

Clinical manesfestations for neurogenic shock

hypotension, bradycardia, warms and dry skin, cool extremeties and diminishing peripheral pulse

radiographers response to neurogenic shock

Sepsis

A life-threatening condition caused by the body's response to an infection.

-develops when the immune system releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight an infection but causes inflammation throughout the entire body instead because the body's response to the chemicals is out of balance

Severe cases of Sepsis can lead to...

septic shock

Other names for septic shock

- bacteremic shock

- endotoxic shock

- septicemic shock

mortality rate for septic shock

40-50%

most common causative organism for septic shock

gram negative bacteria

septic shock

presence of disease causing bacteria in the bloodstream.

-serious infection of the body

What treatment is important for septic shock?

antibiotic treatment as the multiplication of the harmful bacteria in the bloodstream can cause death

Causative organisms for septic shock

gram negative bacteria, gram positive bacteria, viruses

phase 1 of septic shock

hot, dry, flushed skin, increased heart & respiratory, fever, nausea, vomiting, excessive urine, possible confusion

phase 2 of septic shock

cool, pale skin, normal or subnormal temp, drop in blood pressure, rapid heart & respiratory rate, oliguria, seizures and organ failure