Tag: shock and resuscitation
- Airway Assessment ()
When the patient is alert and talking to you, the airway is clear. When the patient is not alert and is not speaking to you, the airway must be assessed In a patient who is unresponsive or not alert, the cause of the altered mental status could be an airway obstruction of some sort, so […]
- Types of Shock ()
Hypovolemic Shock Hypovolemic shock, the most common type, is caused by insufficient circulating volume, typically from hemorrhage although severe vomiting and diarrhea are also potential causes. Hypovolemic shock is graded on a four-point scale depending on the severity of symptoms and level of blood loss. Typical symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse due to decreased […]
- Lower Blood Pressure Results in Oxygen Impairment (Time For PLAN B) ()
Lowered blood pressure delivers less oxygen to the body’s cells. When the cell experiences decreased oxygen levels in the blood, the cells resorts to plan B, anaerobic metabolism. All cells in the body have the ability to exist without oxygen. Ordinarily, oxygen is used in the cell primarily it is needed to convert glucose to […]
- The Mechanics of Maintaining Adequate Blood Pressure Even In Times of Peril ()
When the patient experiences a drop in blood pressure due decreased cardiac output the body unleashes a host of compensatory mechanisms. Human beings are constantly moving and changing positions. Increased workload of the body requires a circulatory system that is dynamic enough to maintain blood pressure in all situations. Usually, these countermeasures ensure consistent and […]
- Effects of Inadequate Perfusion in Cells ()
When perfusion is inadequate, cells in the body’s various tissues are in jeopardy. Kill enough cells, tissue dies. Enough tissue dies, an organ dies. Enough organs die, the patient dies. Hypotension creates an environment where the cells are starved of glucose and oxygen which denies them the ability to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate). Without the […]
- How People Die: Cardiogenic Shock ()
Cardiogenic shock is a medical emergency resulting from inadequate blood flow due to the dysfunction of the ventricles of the heart. Signs of inadequate blood flow include low urine production (<30 mL/hour), cool arms and legs, and altered level of consciousness. People may also have a severely low blood pressure and heart rate. Causes of […]
- How People Die: Respiratory Failure ()
When a patient’s respiratory system becomes compromised, the patient is very close to death. If the patient doesn’t improve, the next step is death. Any condition or injury that affects breathing can cause respiratory failure. The condition or injury may affect the airway or lungs. Or it may affect the muscles, nerves, and bones that […]
- How People Die: Shock ()
Hippocrates used the word exemia to signify a state of being “drained of blood. Shock is a common term thrown around EMS circles. Shock (hypoperfusion) is the state of insufficient blood flow to the tissues of the body as a result of problems with the circulatory system. Initial symptoms of shock may include weakness, fast heart rate, […]
- Disorders of Acid Base Balance ()
Normal arterial blood pH is restricted to a very narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45. A person who has a blood pH below 7.35 is considered to be in acidosis (actually, “physiological acidosis,” because blood is not truly acidic until its pH drops below 7), and a continuous blood pH below 7.0 can be fatal. […]
- Tissue and Cell Exchange ()
Air enters the body through the mouth or nose and quickly moves to the pharynx, or throat. From there, it passes through the larynx, or voice box, and enters the trachea. The trachea is a strong tube that contains rings of cartilage that prevent it from collapsing. Within the lungs, the trachea branches into a […]