ATCN Review Latest Update with Verified Solutions

ATCN Review Latest Update with Verified Solutions What are the indications of a tension pneumothorax? Typical signs include sharp chest pain, a feeling of air hunger, difficulty breathing, an increased heart rate, low blood pressure, deviation of the trachea away from the affected side, absence of breath sounds on one side, an elevated chest area without respiratory movement, distended neck veins, and cyanosis (a late indicator). What are the clinical features of cardiac tamponade? Key signs include Beck’s Triad, which consists of increased venous pressure (evidenced by distended neck veins), reduced arterial pressure (resulting in hypotension), and muffled heart sounds. Other features include pulseless electrical activity (PEA), jugular vein distention (JVD) and/or Kussmaul’s sign. Diagnosis can be assisted by using the FAST examination. How can tension pneumothorax be distinguished from cardiac tamponade? A critical method to differentiate between the two conditions is by carefully assessing the patient’s breath sounds. What is the recommended treatment for tension pneumothorax? 2 Treatment involves needle decompression using a large-bore needle placed in the second intercostal space at the midclavicular line, followed by chest tube insertion in the fourth or fifth intercostal space at the midaxillary line. What does the "triad of death" refer to? The triad of death includes acidosis, hypothermia, and coagulopathy (where blood fails to clot, leading to ongoing bleeding). How is the Rule of Nines applied for adults in assessing burn areas? In adults, the body is divided as follows: Head = 9%, Chest (front) = 9%, Abdomen (front) = 9%, Upper, mid, and lower back plus buttocks = 18%, Each arm = 9% (4.5% for the front and 4.5% for the back), Groin = 1%, Each leg = 18% total (9% for the front and 9% for the back). How does the Rule of Nines apply to pediatric patients? For children, the division is as follows: Anterior and posterior head = 9% each, Anterior and posterior torso = 18% each, Anterior and posterior arms = 4.5% each, Anterior and posterior legs = 7% each. signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome Early signs and sx 3 1. increased pain, greater than expected and out of proportion to the injury 2. Palpable tenseness of the compartment 3. asymmetry of the muscle compartment 4. pain on passive stretch ed sensation Note: Absent distal pulses and poor cap refill are not reliable in dx compartment syndrome. May be a very late sign of C.S.