Block 3: Medical Emergencies S&S

Migraine - What it means?

Really bad headache from brain blood vessel changes

Migraine - Key Clues (5)

• Throbbing headache

• Light/sound sensitivity

• Nausea

• History of migraines

MAJOR clue: Patient knows it’s a migraine

Migraine - Correct Order (3)

1. Calm, dark environment

2. Oxygen if needed

3. Transport if severe

Ischemic Stroke - What it means?

Blood clot blocking brain

Ischemic Stroke - Key Clues (5)

• Face droop

• Arm weakness

• Speech slurred

• Time matters

MAJOR CLUE: Sudden deficits, no headache

Ischemic Stroke - Correct Order (4)

1. Airway & oxygen

2. Check glucose

3. Note time last seen normal

4. Rapid transport (stroke center)

Hemorrhagic Stroke - What it means?

Brain blood vessel bursts

Hemorrhagic Stroke - Key clues (5)

• Worst headache of life

• Vomiting

• Rapid decrease in LOC

• High BP

MAJOR clue : Severe headache + vomiting

Hemorrhagic Stroke - Correct order (3)

1. Airway protection

2. Oxygen

3. Rapid Transport

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - What it means?

Mini-stroke that goes away

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Key Clues (3)

• Stroke symptoms

• Symptoms resolve within minutes to hours

MAJOR CLUE: No lasting deficit

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Correct Order (2)

1. Oxygen

2. Transport

Status Epilepticus - What it means?

Seizure wont stop

Status Epilepticus - Key clues (3)

• Seizure longer than 5 minutes

• Multiple seizures without waking up

MAJOR CLUE: continuous seizure

Status Epilepticus - Correct Order (4)

1. Protect Airway

2. oxygen

3. prevent injury

4. Rapid Transport

Meningitis - What it means?

Infection of brain lining

Meningitis - Key clues (5)

• Fever

• Stiff neck

• headache

• Light sensitivity

MAJOR clue: Fever & Stiff Neck

Meningitis - Correct Order (3)

1. PPE

2. Oxygen

3. transport

Appendicitis - What it means?

Inflamed appendix

Appendicitis - Key Clues (4)

• Pain starts near belly button

• Moves to Lower right abdomen

• Nausea, fever

MAJOR CLUE: Pain moves right

Appendicitis - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen if needed

2. Nothing by mouth

3. Transport

Cholecystitis - What it means?

Inflamed gallbladder

Cholecystitis - Key clues (4)

• Right upper abdominal pain

• Pain after eating fatty food

• Nausea

MAJOR CLUE - RUQ pain after eating

Cholecystitis - Correct order (3)

1. oxygen

2. Position of comfort

3. Transport

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) - What it means?

Open sore in stomach lining

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) - Key Clues (3)

• Burning Stomach Pain

• pain improves with food or antacids

• Possible dark stools

Peptic Ulcer Disease - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen if needed

2. Monitor for bleeding

3. Transport

Diverticulitis - What it means?

Infected pouches in colon

Diverticulitis - Key clues (4)

• Lower left abdominal pain

• fever

• constipation

MAJOR CLUE - LLQ pain

Diverticulitis - Correct Order (2)

1. oxygen

2. transport

Cystitis - What it means?

Bladder infection

Cystitis - Key Clues (3)

• Burning when peeing

• frequent urination

• Lower abdominal pain

Cystitis - Correct Order

1. Supportive care

2. Transport if severe

Pancreatitis - What it means?

Pancreas digesting itself

Pancreatitis - Key clues (5)

• Severe upper abdominal pain

• Pain radiates to back

• Worse after eating

• History of alcohol use

MAJOR CLUE - Pain to back

Pancreatitis - Correct order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Position of comfort

3. Transport

Peritonitis - What it means?

Infection inside abdominal cavity

Peritonitis - Key clues (4)

• Severe abdominla pain

• Rigid, hard abdomen

• fever

MAJOR CLUE - board-like abdomen

Peritonitis - Correct Order (2)

1. Oxygen

2. Rapid transport

Gastrointestinal Bleeds (GI) - What it means?

Bleeding in GI tract

Gastrointestinal Bleeds (GI) - Key Clues (4)

• vomiting blood (Bright or coffee grounds)

• Black, tarry stools

• Signs of shock

MAJOR clue - coffee-ground vomit

Gastrointestinal Bleeds (GI) - Correct Order (3)

1. oxygen

2. Treat for shock

3. rapid transport

Diabetes (TYPE I & II) - What do they each mean?

Diabetes - problem controlling sugar

Diabetes type I - no insulin made

Diabetes type II - insulin doesn’t work well

Diabetes - key clue (1)

History of diabetes & weird behavior

Diabetes - Correct Order (3)

1. Check mental status

2. Check glucose (if allowed)

3. Treat based on high vs low sugar

Symptomatic Hypoglycemia - What it means?

Brain not getting sugar

Symptomatic Hypoglycemia - Key Clues (6)

• Confusion

• Shaky

• Diaphoretic

• Pale

• Tachycardia

MAJOR CLUE - Sudden confusion & diaphoretic

Symptomatic Hypoglycemia - Correct Order (3)

1. Oral glucose if awake

2. Oxygen

3. Reassess

Symptomatic Hyperglycemia - What it means?

Too much sugar in blood

Symptomatic Hyperglycemia - Key Clues (4)

• Thirst

• Frequent urination

• Warm, dry skin

• Slow onset

Symptomatic Hyperglycemia - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Transport

3. Monitor airway

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) - What it means?

Body burning fat causing acid buildup

Diabetic Ketoacidosis - Key Clues (6)

• Fruity Breath

• Deep, fast breathing (Kussmaul respirations)

• High sugar (greater than 250 mg/dl)

• Nausea/vomiting

• Seen in type 1 diabetics

Major clue - fruity breath

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. airway monitoring

3. rapid transport

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State - What it means?

EXTREMELY high sugar causing severe dehydration

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State - Key Clues (6)

• Very dry skin

• Very high sugar level (600 mg/dl+)

• Altered mental status

• NO fruity breath

• seen in type 2 diabetics

MAJOR CLUE - dry & super high sugar

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Transport

3. Monitor Vitals

Delirium Tremens (DTs) - What it means?

Severe alcohol withdrawal

Delirium Tremens (DTs) - Key clues (5)

• Confusion

• Shaking

• Hallucinations

• High BP, fever

Major exam clue - alcohol history, shaking, confusion

Delirium Tremens (DTs) - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Calm environment

3. Rapid transport

Narcotic Overdose - What it means?

Too much opioid causing breathing to stop

Narcotic Overdose - Key clues (4)

• pinpoint pupils

• slow or no breathing

• Unconscious

MAJOR CLUE - breathing problem

Narcotic Overdose - Correct Order (3)

1. Ventilate FIRST

2. Naloxone

3. Monitor breathing

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - What it means?

Infection of female reproductive organs

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) - Key clues (3)

• Lower abdominal pain

• fever

• vaginal discharge

Pelvic Inflammatory Diseae (PID) - Correct Order (2)

1. Oxygen

2. Transport

Preeclampsia - What it means?

High Blood pressure in pregnancy (HTN)

Preeclampsia - Key Clues (5)

• Headache

• Swelling

• high BP

• vision changes

MAJOR CLUE - pregnancy & high blood pressure

Preeclampsia - Correct order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. LEFT SIDE POSITION

3. transport

Eclampsia - What it means?

Preeclampsia (HTN) with seizures

Eclampsia - Key clue (1)

• Seizure in pregnant patient

Eclampsia - correct order (4)

1. protect airway

2. oxygen

3. left side position

4. rapid transport

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome - What it means?

Pregnant patient lying flat causing Blood Pressure to drop

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome - Key clues (3)

• Dizziness

• Low BP

• Pregnant women lying on their back

Supine Hypotensive Syndrome - Correct order (3)

1. Roll patient onto left side

2. oxygen

3. reassess

Ectopic Pregnancy - What it means?

Pregnancy growing outside uterus

Ectopic Pregnancy - Key Clues (4)

• Lower abdominal pain

• vaginal bleeding

• signs of shock

MAJOR CLUE - pain & bleeding early pregnancy

Ectopic Pregnancy - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Treat for shock

3. Rapid transport

Abruptio Placentae - What it means

Placenta pulls away early

Abruptio Placentae - Key clues (4)

• Painful bleeding

• Rigid Uterus

• Signs of shock

MAJOR CLUE - painful bleeding

Abruptio Placentae - Correct order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Left Side

3. Rapid transport

Placenta Previa - What it means?

Placenta blocks cervix

Placenta previa - key clues (3)

• Painless bleeding

• late pregnancy

MAJOR clue - bleeding without pain

Placenta previa - Correct order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. left side

3. transport

Croup - What it means?

Swollen airway in kids

Croup - Key clues (4)

• Barking cough

• Hoarse voice

• stridor

MAJOR CLUE - seal-like cough

Croup - Correct order (3)

1. Keep child calm

2. Oxygen

3. Transport

Epiglottis - What it means?

life-threatening throat swelling

Epiglottis - Key clues (5)

• Drooling

• Tripod position

• stridor

• fever

MAJOR clue - drooling & tripod position

Epiglottis - Correct Order (3)

1. DO NOT look in throat

2. Oxygen

3. Rapid transport

Bronchiolitis - What it means?

Viral lung infection in infants

Bronchiolitis - Key Clues (3)

• Wheezing

• Runny nose

• poor feeding

Bronchiolitis - Correct Order (3)

1. Oxygen

2. Suction if needed

3. transport

Pertussis (whooping cough) - What it means?

Severe coughing infection

Pertussis (whooping cough) - Key clues (3)

• Long coughing fits

• Whoop sound

• Vomiting after coughing

Pertussis (whooping cough) - Correct order (3)

1. oxygen

2. monitor airway

3. Transport