ED course 2: Pathophysiology
Accute Trauma Diagnoses - ANS-They are the diseases listed below in this section.
Asthma - ANS-Constricting of the airway due to inflammation and muscular contraction of the
bronchioles, known as a bronchioles
Cardiovascular - ANS--The system for the following diseases listed below
Coronary artery disease (CAD)...what are the risk factors, CC, symptoms, meds, and etc? -
ANS-•Risk factors: HTN, HLD, DM, Smoking, Family history of CAD/MI <55 y/o
•Chief Complaint (CC): Exterional chest pain or chest pressure w/ modifying factors of worse w/
exertion, and improves with rest and/or nitroglycerin (NTG)
•Assoc sympt.: SOB
•Meds: NTG for angina, Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) to decrease a chance of blockage
•Diagnosed by: Cardiac catheterization (CAD cannot be diagnosed in the ED)
note that a patient had CAD if they have a PMHx of Angina, MI, CABG, Cardiac stents, or
Angioplasty
How is Internal Organ Injury diagnosed? - ANS--CT abdomen
Internal Organ Injury (Spleen, Liver) - ANS-Rupture leading to hemorrhage/bleeding
MI (risk factors, CC, symptoms, etc) - ANS-•Risk factors: CAD, HTN, HLD, Diabetes Mellitus,
Smoker, FHx of CAD <55 y.o.
•CC: chest pain or chest pressure (worse w/ exertion, improved with rest or NTG)
•Assoc Symp: Diaphoresis (sweating), Nausea/Vomiting, and SOB
•Meds: Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin or ASA), NTG, Thrombolytic (Heparin)
•Diagnosed by: STEMI- diagnosed by EKG (may also have elevated Tripp in)
Non-STEMI: diagnosed by elevated troponin
-STEMI patients must get to Cath-lab within 90 minutes of arrival!!
What are kidney stones? - ANS-A kidney stone dislodged from the kidney and begins to travel
down the ureter. The stone scrapes and irritates the ureter, causing severe flank pain and
bloody urine.
What are the effects of chronically high blood glucose? - ANS-
What are the effects of chronically high blood pressure? - ANS-
, What are the effects of chronically high cholesterol? - ANS-
What are the two types of CVA? - ANS-ischemic and hemorrhagic
What is a fracture - ANS-Trauma creates pain/swelling
What is a hemorrhagic CVA? - ANS-Traumatic or spontaneous rupture of blood vessels in the
head leads to bleeding in the brain
What is a Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident? - ANS-Blockage of the arteries supplying blood
to the brain resulting in permanent brain damage.
What is a mini stroke? - ANS--it does not cause permanent damage to the brain and is referred
to as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
What is a Myocardial Infarction (MI) - ANS-Acute blockage of the coronary arteries causing
ischemia or infarct to the heart muscle
What is a pulmonary embolism? - ANS-A blood clot become lodged in the pulmonary artery and
blocks blood flow to the lungs.
What is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - ANS-Vascular changes temporarily deprive a part of
the brain of oxygen; "temporary" blockage of artery, usually resolves within 1 hour.
What is a true stroke? - ANS-A true stroke causes permanent damage and is known as a
Cerebrovascular accident CVA.
What is a urinary tract infection? - ANS-Infection of the urinary tract (bladder or urethra)
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)? - ANS-widened and weakened arterial wall at risk
of rupture
What is an Aortic Dissection? - ANS-The separation of the muscular wall from the membrane of
the artery, putting the pt at risk for aortic rupture and death
What is Appendicitis - ANS-Infection if the appendix causes inflammation and blockage,
possibly leading to rupture.
What is Atrial Fibrillation - ANS-Electrical abnormalities in the "wiring" of the heart causes the tip
of the heart (atria) to quiver abnormally.
What is cholelithiasis? - ANS-Minerals from the liver's bile condense to form gallstones which
can irritate, inflame, or obstruct the gallbladder.
Accute Trauma Diagnoses - ANS-They are the diseases listed below in this section.
Asthma - ANS-Constricting of the airway due to inflammation and muscular contraction of the
bronchioles, known as a bronchioles
Cardiovascular - ANS--The system for the following diseases listed below
Coronary artery disease (CAD)...what are the risk factors, CC, symptoms, meds, and etc? -
ANS-•Risk factors: HTN, HLD, DM, Smoking, Family history of CAD/MI <55 y/o
•Chief Complaint (CC): Exterional chest pain or chest pressure w/ modifying factors of worse w/
exertion, and improves with rest and/or nitroglycerin (NTG)
•Assoc sympt.: SOB
•Meds: NTG for angina, Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) to decrease a chance of blockage
•Diagnosed by: Cardiac catheterization (CAD cannot be diagnosed in the ED)
note that a patient had CAD if they have a PMHx of Angina, MI, CABG, Cardiac stents, or
Angioplasty
How is Internal Organ Injury diagnosed? - ANS--CT abdomen
Internal Organ Injury (Spleen, Liver) - ANS-Rupture leading to hemorrhage/bleeding
MI (risk factors, CC, symptoms, etc) - ANS-•Risk factors: CAD, HTN, HLD, Diabetes Mellitus,
Smoker, FHx of CAD <55 y.o.
•CC: chest pain or chest pressure (worse w/ exertion, improved with rest or NTG)
•Assoc Symp: Diaphoresis (sweating), Nausea/Vomiting, and SOB
•Meds: Acetylsalicylic Acid (aspirin or ASA), NTG, Thrombolytic (Heparin)
•Diagnosed by: STEMI- diagnosed by EKG (may also have elevated Tripp in)
Non-STEMI: diagnosed by elevated troponin
-STEMI patients must get to Cath-lab within 90 minutes of arrival!!
What are kidney stones? - ANS-A kidney stone dislodged from the kidney and begins to travel
down the ureter. The stone scrapes and irritates the ureter, causing severe flank pain and
bloody urine.
What are the effects of chronically high blood glucose? - ANS-
What are the effects of chronically high blood pressure? - ANS-
, What are the effects of chronically high cholesterol? - ANS-
What are the two types of CVA? - ANS-ischemic and hemorrhagic
What is a fracture - ANS-Trauma creates pain/swelling
What is a hemorrhagic CVA? - ANS-Traumatic or spontaneous rupture of blood vessels in the
head leads to bleeding in the brain
What is a Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident? - ANS-Blockage of the arteries supplying blood
to the brain resulting in permanent brain damage.
What is a mini stroke? - ANS--it does not cause permanent damage to the brain and is referred
to as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
What is a Myocardial Infarction (MI) - ANS-Acute blockage of the coronary arteries causing
ischemia or infarct to the heart muscle
What is a pulmonary embolism? - ANS-A blood clot become lodged in the pulmonary artery and
blocks blood flow to the lungs.
What is a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - ANS-Vascular changes temporarily deprive a part of
the brain of oxygen; "temporary" blockage of artery, usually resolves within 1 hour.
What is a true stroke? - ANS-A true stroke causes permanent damage and is known as a
Cerebrovascular accident CVA.
What is a urinary tract infection? - ANS-Infection of the urinary tract (bladder or urethra)
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)? - ANS-widened and weakened arterial wall at risk
of rupture
What is an Aortic Dissection? - ANS-The separation of the muscular wall from the membrane of
the artery, putting the pt at risk for aortic rupture and death
What is Appendicitis - ANS-Infection if the appendix causes inflammation and blockage,
possibly leading to rupture.
What is Atrial Fibrillation - ANS-Electrical abnormalities in the "wiring" of the heart causes the tip
of the heart (atria) to quiver abnormally.
What is cholelithiasis? - ANS-Minerals from the liver's bile condense to form gallstones which
can irritate, inflame, or obstruct the gallbladder.
