Patient Care: Medical Emergencies

Bvcc

PE: Blockage of an artery in the lungs by fat,air,blood clot, or tumor cells.
Symptoms: chest pain under breastbone or on the side
PE- difficult to diagnose, symptom not specific

A life threatening condition, occurs when the body is not getting enough blood flow, can damage multiple organs

Cerebral Vascular Accident: (stroke)-Rapid loss of the brain function due to disturbance in the body supply to the brain

FAINTING- TRANSIENT LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

When the patient condition has changed to serious, dangerous situation, requires immediate action

Know where the Crash Cart is at each location on clinical site.
Notify Radiologist &Nurse, call the hospital emergency team.

Neurological Assessment tool to measure the level of consciousness in a person following a brain injury
*Quick, Simple, Reliable, Convenient
*Need to evaluate 3 different areas: Eyes open,Motor response, Verbal response

* Spontaneously 4
* to voice 3
* to painful stimuli 2
* no response 1

* Obeys commands 6
* Localized pain 5
* Withdraws from painful stimuli 4
* Abnormal flexion 3
* Extension 2
* No response 1

* Oriented 5
* Confused speech 4
* Inappropriate words 3
* Incomprehensible sounds 2
* None 1

Indication patient's condition is changing
* change in L O C
- Ask the patient to state his name, date of birth,& reason for coming to the radiology department.
- After providing instructions for positioning of patient, not ability to follow directions.
* 4 Levels of LOC

4 LOC:
* CONSCIOUS
* Drowsy but responsive
* Unconscious but reactive to pt stimuli
* Comatose (state of coma)

SHOCK: indicate a failure of the circulatory system to support vital body functions

1) HYPOVOLEMIC
2 )CARDIOGENIC
3 )NEUROGENIC
4 )VASOGENIC