Medical Emergencies Part 2 (RADS

Hypoglycemia

a condition in which blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than the standard range

hypoglecemia occurs when blood glucose levels fall below

50-60 mg/dl

The body maintains the blood glucose level at

70-110 mg/dl

When a person with diabetes mellitus has:

-an excessive amount of insulin or oral hypoglycemic in their bloodstream

-increased metabolism glucose

-an inadequate food intake with which to utilize the insulin

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

a physiologic reaction of the body to insulin deficiency resulting in hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)

complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus or an elderly person with no history of diabetes, perceived as being inebriated or having a stroke

-life threatening

Causes of Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonkinetic Syndrome

acute illnesss, dialysis, diagnostic procedures requiring a change in diet such as NPO for 12 hours

Clinical Manifestations of hypoglycemia

- Tachycardia, headache, blurred vision, extreme thirst, sweet odor to the breath for diabetic ketoacidosis

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

stroke, apoplexy, brain attack

cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is caused by:

-occlusion of the blood supply to the brain

-rupture of the blood supply to the brain

-rupture of a cerebral artery

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

small stroke

Clinical Manifestations of Cerebrovascular accident

severe headache, numbness, muscle weakness, eye deviation, confusion, dizziness, difficult speech, ataxia, stiff neck, nausea, loss of consciousness

The human brain can survive how long without oxygen?

4-5 minutes

During cardiac and respiratory emergencies be prepared to perform:

-CPR

-Abdominal Thrust Maneuvar

-Use Automated external defibrillator (AED)

wear gloves and a disposable mask

manisfestations of cardiac arrest

loss of consciousness

dilation of the pupils within seconds

possibility of seizures

Respiratory Dysfunction may precede

respiratory arrest

Respiratory Dysfunction may be a result of

airway obstruction, tongue falling backward into the throat of an unresponsive person, drug overdose, injury, coma

Manifestation of partial obstruction

labored noisy breathing, wheezing, neck vein distention, diaphoresis, anxiety, cyanosis

Clinical Manifestations of respiratory arrest

patient stops breathing, pulse continues to beat briefly and quickly, chest movements stop

Defibrillation reads the

quivering or spontaneous contraction of individual muscle fibers

When cardiac arrest occurs, paddles from the AED can be used to determine the presence of

ventricular tachycardia (VT or Vtach) or ventricular fibrillation (VF or Vfib)

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT)

any rapid rhythm, faster than 110-120 bpm arising in the ventricle

Ventricular Fibrillation (VF)

grossly disorganized rapid and strong ventricular rhythm

For every minute that defibrillation is delayed the patients chances for survival decline by

10%

Airway Obstruction

when a foreign object is lodged in a patients throat; may produce respiratory arrest

-pt will grab throat and unable to speak

seizures

an unsystematic discharge of neurons of the cerebrum resulting in a abrupt alteration in brain function

-change in level of consciousness

-syndrome or symptom of disease

two types of seizures

partial and generalized

generalized seizures

muscles become rigid, eyes wide open, jerky body movements, vomit, froth and have blood streaked saliva, lips or tongue, urinary or fecal incontinence, falls into a deep sleep after

Partial Seizures: Complex

patient may remain motionless, may experience an excessive emotional outburst of fear, crying or anger, facial grimacing, lip smacking, confused after episode

Partial Seizures: Simple

only a finger or hand may shake, may speak unintelligibly, may be dizzy, will not lose consciousness

Epistaxis

nosebleed

Causes of epistaxis

secondary local infection, drying of nasal mucosa, trauma, tumor, hypertension

syncope

fainting, a transient loss of consciousness resulting from an insufficient blood supply to the beain

nausea

subjective unpleasant, wavelike sensation in the back of the throat, and stomach that may lead to the urge to vomit

Causes of syncope

Heart disease, hunger, poor ventilation, extreme fatigue, emotional distress, trauma.

orthostatic hypotension

Vertigo (dizziness)

occurs after lying on table for a prolonged period of time, patient can fall and injure themselves, always assist your patient

asthma

A condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus.

-cause by difficulty in breathing, triggers wheezing, SOB, and coughing