Advanced Patient Assessment
This term describes a drop in blood pressure of at least 20 mmHg systolic or 10 mmHg diastolic upon standing.
What is orthostatic hypotension?
The Beck’s Triad—hypotension, jugular vein distension, and muffled heart sounds—is indicative of this life-threatening condition.
What is cardiac tamponade?
The classic triad of symptoms—miosis, respiratory depression, and coma—is seen in overdoses of this drug class.
What are opioids?
The presence of blood in the anterior chamber of the eye following trauma is known as this.
What is a hyphema?
A seizure that lasts more than five minutes or occurs back-to-back without recovery is called this.
What is status epilepticus?
A paradoxical chest movement, often indicating a severe chest injury, is characteristic of this condition.
What is a flail chest?
This irregular, gasping respiratory pattern often occurs in the agonal phase of cardiac arrest.
What is agonal breathing?
Hypothermia can cause this type of potentially fatal heart arrhythmia, characterized by an "Osborn wave" on ECG.
What is ventricular fibrillation?
This type of shock, often caused by spinal cord injury, results in warm, flushed skin and hypotension without tachycardia.
What is neurogenic shock?
The presence of both upper and lower motor neuron signs without sensory loss suggests this progressive neurodegenerative disease.
What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)?
This reflex, assessed in suspected head trauma, causes an abnormal extension of the extremities in response to pain.
What is decerebrate posturing?
A patient experiencing pulsus paradoxus, dyspnea, and diminished breath sounds may be suffering from this condition.
What is a tension pneumothorax?
A diver who ascends too quickly without properly equalizing pressure is at risk of this life-threatening condition.
What is decompression sickness?
This rare but deadly condition can occur when long bone fractures release fat globules into circulation, causing embolism.
What is fat embolism syndrome?
This condition, often following a viral illness, causes ascending paralysis and can lead to respiratory failure.
What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
A patient with a suspected basilar skull fracture may present with this sign, characterized by bruising behind the ears.
What is Battle’s sign?
This syndrome occurs when prolonged compression of a body part leads to the release of toxic substances into circulation once pressure is relieved.
What is crush syndrome?
The antidote for cyanide poisoning works by inducing methemoglobinemia to bind cyanide.
What is sodium thiosulfate or hydroxocobalamin?
This life-threatening abdominal injury is indicated by bruising around the umbilicus and suggests internal bleeding.
What is Cullen’s sign?
A patient who experiences a brief loss of vision in one eye, known as "amaurosis fugax," may be suffering from this condition.
What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?
This triad—hypertension, bradycardia, and irregular respirations—indicates increasing intracranial pressure.
What is Cushing’s triad?
A "water-hammer" pulse (bounding and collapsing) is often associated with this cardiac valve disorder.
What is aortic regurgitation?
The "hot, dry skin" presentation of hyperthermia is typically seen in this specific heat-related condition.
What is heat stroke?
A high-riding prostate on rectal exam suggests this severe traumatic injury.
What is a pelvic fracture with urethral disruption?
This posturing, characterized by rigid extension of the arms and legs, indicates severe brainstem damage.
What is decerebrate posturing?