Section 8 Special Patient Populations Flashcards

Flashcards covering various medical aspects and assessment strategies for special patient populations, including disabilities, medical technology dependencies, and abuse identification of abuse.

Developmental Disability

A group of conditions that may impair development in the areas of physical ability, learning, language development, or behavioral coping skills.

Intellectual Disability

A subset of developmental disability characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning and skills needed for daily living, diagnosed before age $22$ years.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

A neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication and social interaction, along with restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.

Down Syndrome

A genetic chromosomal defect, also known as trisomy $21$, resulting from a triplication of chromosome $21$ that leads to intellectual impairment and distinct physical features like a round head with a flat occiput.

Atlantoaxial Instability

A common condition in patients with Down syndrome characterized by instability of the joint where the first two cervical vertebrae meet, increasing the risk of spinal injury during trauma.

Sensorineural Deafness

A type of hearing loss resulting from nerve damage or a lesion to the inner ear.

Conductive Hearing Loss

A type of hearing loss caused by the faulty transmission of sound waves, which can result from wax accumulation in the ear canal or a perforated eardrum.

Cerebral Palsy

A group of disorders involving poorly controlled body movement caused by damage to the developing fetal brain in utero, oxygen deprivation at birth, traumatic brain injury at birth, or early childhood infection.

Ataxia

An unsteady gait that is commonly associated with patients who have cerebral palsy.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing, frequently seen in patients with cerebral palsy, which may necessitate aggressive suctioning to maintain a clear airway.

Spina Bifida

A neural tube deformity where the lower portion of the spine fails to close during embryonic or fetal development, resulting in an exposed portion of the spinal cord.

Hydrocephalus

A condition sometimes associated with spina bifida involving excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that requires a shunt for drainage.

Hyperesthesia

An increased sensitivity to touch that may cause paralyzed patients to experience contact as pain in the affected area.

Orthotic Device

An externally applied device, such as a brace or splint, used to support a body part or improve its physical function.

Prosthetic Device

Also known as a prosthesis, this device is used to partially or wholly replace an absent or deficient body part of the patient.

Obesity

In adults, a condition generally defined by a body mass index (BMI) of $30$ or greater.

Severe Obesity

Also referred to as extreme or morbid obesity, a condition in adults defined by a body mass index (BMI) of $40$ or greater.

Tracheostomy Tube

A tube inserted through a surgical opening in the neck to ensure a patent airway for patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation or frequent tracheal suctioning.

Oxygen Concentrator

A home medical machine that takes ambient air and scrubs the nitrogen from it, providing almost $100\%$ oxygen to the patient.

DOPE Mnemonic

A troubleshooting tool for mechanical ventilators: Displacement (of the tube), Obstruction (of the tube), Pneumothorax, and Equipment (failure).

Apnea Monitor

A device used for high-risk infants to monitor respiration and sound an alarm if the infant experiences bradycardia or apnea lasting $15$ to $20$ seconds.

Ventricular Assist Device (VAD)

A medical device that takes over the function of one or both heart ventricles, typically used as a bridge to heart transplantation.

Central Venous Catheter

Also called a central line, this catheter tip is placed in the superior vena cava to provide permanent venous access for long-term clinical needs like chemotherapy or hemodialysis.

Gastrostomy Tube

Commonly called a G-tube, these are surgically inserted through the abdominal wall into the stomach for patients unable to ingest food or fluids by mouth.

VP Shunt

A ventriculoperitoneal shunt used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the brain into the peritoneum of the abdomen.

VA Shunt

A ventriculoatrial shunt used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the brain into the right atrium of the heart.

Vagus Nerve Stimulator

A surgically implanted device used to stimulate the vagus nerve at predetermined intervals to help prevent seizure activity in patients with epilepsy.

Stoma

A surgically created opening from the large or small intestine to the surface of the body for waste elimination.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)

The sudden unexpected death of a child younger than $1$ year where the cause may be known or unknown.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

A subset of SUID where the death of a child younger than $1$ year remains unexplained even after a thorough investigative process.

Brief Resolved Unexplained Event (BRUE)

An event in an infant younger than $1$ year lasting less than $1$ minute that includes irregular respirations, cyanosis, decreased consciousness, or altered muscle tone.

Child Maltreatment

A term that refers to all forms of child exploitation, including physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.

TEN-4-FACES-P Mnemonic

A tool for identifying suspicious bruising in children: Torso, Ears, Neck, $4$ months or less, Frenulum/Angle of jaw/Cheeks/Eyelids/Subconjunctivae, and Patterned bruising.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

A subset of abusive head trauma resulting from intentional, forceful shaking that causes bleeding around the brain and damage to the cervical spine.

Human Trafficking

The illegal exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion, often described as modern-day slavery.

Elder Abuse

Any action or failure to act on the part of a family member or caregiver that takes advantage of an older person's body, property, or emotional state.