life support

ABCDE approach

Structured method to assess and treat patients in order of priority: Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure

Airway

The passage through which air enters and leaves the lungs

Breathing

The process of ventilation and gas exchange in the lungs

Circulation

The movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels

Disability

Neurological status assessment (consciousness, pupils, glucose)

Exposure

Full body examination while preventing hypothermia

Respiratory system

Organ system responsible for gas exchange and pH regulation

Upper respiratory tract

Nose to larynx, conducts and conditions air

Lower respiratory tract

Trachea to lungs, responsible for gas exchange

Pharynx

Shared airway for breathing and swallowing

Larynx

Structure that protects airway and produces sound

Epiglottis

Flap that prevents food entering airway during swallowing

Trachea

Windpipe that conducts air to the lungs

Bronchi

Airways branching from the trachea into the lungs

Alveoli

Microscopic air sacs where gas exchange occurs

Surfactant

Substance that reduces alveolar collapse

Pulmonary ventilation

Movement of air into and out of the lungs

Diaphragm

Primary muscle of respiration

Airway obstruction

Blockage preventing airflow into lungs

Stridor

High

Gurgling

Sound indicating fluid in airway

Snoring

Sound indicating partial airway obstruction

Head tilt–chin lift

Maneuver to open airway

Jaw thrust

Airway maneuver used in trauma patients (CSI)

Oropharyngeal airway

Device to keep airway open via mouth

Nasopharyngeal airway

Device inserted via nose to maintain airway

Endotracheal tube

Tube placed in trachea to secure airway

Circulatory system

System that transports blood, oxygen, and nutrients

Heart

Muscular pump that circulates blood

Myocardium

Muscular layer of the heart responsible for contraction

Endocardium

Inner lining of the heart

Epicardium

Outer layer of the heart

Atrium

Upper chamber of the heart that receives blood

Ventricle

Lower chamber that pumps blood

Atrioventricular valves

Valves between atria and ventricles

Semilunar valves

Valves between ventricles and arteries

Aorta

Main artery carrying blood from heart to body

Pulmonary artery

Carries deoxygenated blood to lungs

Pulmonary vein

Carries oxygenated blood to heart

Coronary arteries

Vessels supplying blood to the heart

Cardiac output

Volume of blood pumped per minute

Stroke volume

Blood ejected per heartbeat

Heart rate

Number of heartbeats per minute

Preload

Stretch of heart muscle before contraction

Afterload

Resistance the heart must overcome to pump blood

Cardiac cycle

One complete heartbeat (systole + diastole)

Systole

Phase of contraction

Diastole

Phase of relaxation

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Recording of electrical activity of heart

P wave

Atrial depolarization

QRS complex

Ventricular depolarization

T wave

Ventricular repolarization

Arrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm

Atrial fibrillation

Irregular, rapid atrial rhythm

Cardioversion

Procedure to restore normal heart rhythm

Ablation

Destruction of abnormal electrical pathways

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack due to blocked coronary artery

Troponin

Blood marker indicating heart muscle damage

Angina

Chest pain due to reduced blood flow to heart

Aortic dissection

Tear in aortic wall causing life

Cardiac tamponade

Fluid around heart compressing it

Beck’s triad

Hypotension, JVD, muffled heart sounds

Heart failure

Inability of heart to pump effectively

Pulmonary edema

Fluid accumulation in lungs

Shock

State of inadequate tissue perfusion

Hypovolemic shock

Shock due to fluid loss

Cardiogenic shock

Shock due to heart pump failure

Obstructive shock

Shock due to physical obstruction of blood flow

Distributive shock

Shock due to abnormal blood distribution

Sepsis

Life

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction causing shock

Lactate

Marker of tissue hypoxia

Vasoconstriction

Narrowing of blood vessels

Vasodilation

Widening of blood vessels

Intoxication

Harmful effects due to exposure to toxic substances

Toxidrome

Pattern of symptoms caused by a class of toxins

Sympathomimetic

Toxidrome with increased sympathetic activity

Anticholinergic

Toxidrome with blocked parasympathetic activity

Sedative

hypnotic

Opioid

Toxidrome causing respiratory depression and miosis

Miosis

Constricted pupils

Mydriasis

Dilated pupils

Naloxone

Antidote for opioid overdose

Activated charcoal

Substance that binds toxins in the gut

Gastric lavage

Washing out stomach contents

Decontamination

Removal of toxic substances

Burn

Tissue injury caused by heat, chemicals, or electricity

First degree burn

Superficial burn affecting epidermis

Second degree burn

Partial thickness burn with blisters

Third degree burn

Full thickness burn destroying skin layers

Fourth degree burn

Burn affecting muscle and bone

Total body surface area (TBSA)

Percentage of body burned

Fluid resuscitation

Replacement of lost fluids

Jackson’s burn model

Zones of burn injury severity

Eschar

Dead tissue from severe burn

Inhalation injury

Airway/lung damage from smoke or heat

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Reduced oxygen delivery due to CO binding hemoglobin

Cyanide poisoning

Blocks cellular respiration

Nervous system

System controlling body communication and responses

Neuron

Basic functional unit of nervous system