Cram flashacrds

How to assess patients?

Airway → Breathing → Circulation; airway always priority.

Why fluid moves in the body

Fluid follows pressure gradients from high → low pressure.

Effect of blocked pathway

Upstream pressure buildup → ischemia or structural collapse.

Visual acuity test purpose

Measures CN II and central distance vision.

Tonometry purpose

Measures intraocular pressure (IOP).

Slit-lamp exam purpose

Visualizes cornea, lens, iris; detects cataracts/structural defects.

Amsler grid abnormality meaning

Metamorphopsia indicates macular distortion.

Myopia mechanism

Eye too long; focal point falls short of retina; corrected with concave lens.

Dry AMD cause

Drusen accumulation from failed waste clearance → slow atrophy.

Wet AMD cause

VEGF-driven weak neovascularization → leakage → sudden central blindness.

Phacoemulsification definition

Ultrasound breaks cataract lens → vacuum removal → synthetic IOL placed.

Trabeculectomy definition

Removes trabecular meshwork piece → fistula drains aqueous → filtering bleb → ↓IOP.

Why avoid straining post-eye surgery

Increases intrathoracic pressure → raises IOP → bleeding/suture rupture risk.

Why avoid touching dropper tip

Prevents contamination and corneal trauma.

First-degree burn

Epidermis only; painful; blanches well.

Second-degree superficial partial-thickness

Epidermis + upper dermis; blisters; extremely painful.

Second-degree deep partial-thickness

Deep dermis; waxy/mottled; less pain due to nerve destruction.

Third-degree burn

Full-thickness; eschar; insensate center.

Why third-degree burn center is painless

Nerves destroyed.

TBSA: anterior torso + front of both arms

18% + 4.5% + 4.5% = 27%.

Inhalation injury danger

Airway edema can occlude glottis within minutes → intubate immediately.

Burn shock mechanism

Capillary leak → massive third-spacing → intravascular hypovolemia.

Burn healing nutrition needs

High protein + Vitamin C + Zinc.

Factors that hinder burn healing

Infection, ischemia, pressure/shearing.

Inflammatory phase timeline

Days 1–4.

Proliferative phase timeline

Days 4–21; granulation tissue forms.

Maturation phase timeline

3 weeks–1+ year; collagen reorganizes; pressure garments prevent keloids.

Requirements for graft take

Good vascular bed, immobilization, zero infection.

CPB machine function

Diverts venous blood → oxygenates → returns to aorta; heart can be stopped.

Mechanical valve pros

Durable; ideal for <65.

Mechanical valve cons

Requires lifelong warfarin; contraindicated in pregnancy, poor compliance, bleeding risk.

Bioprosthetic valve pros

No long-term anticoagulation.

Bioprosthetic valve cons

Lasts 10–15 years; degenerates.

Post-op A-fib cause

Inflammation + electrolyte shifts irritate atria.

Chest incision splinting purpose

Stabilizes sternum; reduces pain; prevents dehiscence.

Pleural space pressure

Negative pressure keeps lungs expanded.

Why chest tube box stays low

Prevents backflow of air/fluid into pleural space.

Tidaling meaning

Rises with inhalation, falls with exhalation.

Absent tidaling meaning

Lung re-expanded OR tubing kinked.

Continuous bubbling meaning

Air leak in system.

Atherosclerosis mechanism

LDL enters wall → foam cells → fibrous plaque → lumen narrows.

Stent purpose

Mechanical scaffold compresses plaque → restores perfusion.

Virchow’s Triad components

Stasis, endothelial injury, hypercoagulability.

Why never massage a DVT

Can dislodge clot → pulmonary embolism.

Gastric pull-up definition

Stomach moved into thorax to replace resected esophagus.

Anastomotic leak danger

Acid + bacteria spill → mediastinitis/peritonitis → sepsis.

Dumping syndrome mechanism

Hypertonic food enters jejunum → water shifts into bowel → distension + hypovolemia.

Dumping syndrome management

Small meals, low carbs, dry meals, lie down after eating.

Epidural hematoma cause

Middle meningeal artery tear → arterial bleed.

Epidural classic presentation

LOC → lucid interval → rapid deterioration.

Subdural hematoma cause

Bridging vein tear; slow venous bleed.

Why elderly prone to subdural

Brain atrophy stretches veins.

Frontal lobe functions

Personality, motor control, Broca’s area (expressive aphasia).

Temporal lobe functions

Auditory processing, Wernicke’s area (receptive aphasia).

Parietal lobe functions

Sensory processing, spatial awareness.

Occipital lobe functions

Vision.

Why non-contrast CT before tPA

Must confirm ischemic vs hemorrhagic stroke.

Post-femoral catheterization care

Keep flat, leg straight; prevents reopening puncture; check pedal pulses.