Outline. Chest Pain/Heart Attack Stroke Fits + fainting Making a 999 Call

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Outline. Chest Pain/Heart Attack Stroke Fits + fainting Making a 999 Call"

Silvester Wells
6 years ago
Views:

1 Street Medicine

2 Outline Chest Pain/Heart Attack Stroke Fits + fainting Making a 999 Call

3 Terminology Physiology: The biological study of the functions of living organisms and their parts Pathology: the study of the origin, nature, and course of diseases Pathophysiology: the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, caused by disease

4 Heart Attack/MI (myocardial infarction)

5 Heart Attack Definition: Death of, or damage to, a region of heart muscle due to an insufficient blood supply Coronary Heart Disease caused almost 50,000 premature deaths in the UK in 2008

6 Cardiac Anatomy & Physiology

8 MI Pathophysiology Build up of fatty deposits in lining of coronary artery, forming a plaque

9 Treatment

10 MI Pathophysiology Build up of fatty deposits in lining of coronary artery, forming a plaque Fatty plaque ruptures, exposing blood cells and clotting agents to sticky products in plaque Blood clot (thrombus) forms and blocks artery, cutting off blood supply to distal heart muscle

11 Symptoms Crushing chest pain, may radiate to arms + neck Shortness of breath Nausea + Vomiting Anxiety Dizziness

12 Baz interview Patient interview video

13 Treatment Call 999 Sit in supported position with knees bent Give aspirin (300mg) if available Check for GTN spray and administer Be prepared to give CPR Reassure patient

14 Stroke

15 Stroke Definition: A stroke is caused by the interruption of the blood supply to the brain, usually because a blood vessel is blocked by a clot or bursts

16 Anatomy and Physiology Blood to the brain supplied mainly by the carotid arteries These arteries break down into small arterioles to supply the brain with blood

17 Anatomy

18 Brain attack 80% of strokes Pathophysiology: Ischaemic Stroke The same processes as in MI lead to narrowing of carotid arteries Clots can form and travel along artery until they become lodged This cuts off blood supply to brain tissue distal to the blockage

19 Pathphysiology Haemorrhagic stroke 10% of strokes are caused by bleeding into the brain when a vessel bursts Blood puts pressure on brain tissue Difficult to distinguish without imaging First aid treatment is the same for both types

20 Symptoms One sided weakness in face, arm or leg on one side Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision, particularly in one eye Loss of speech, difficulty talking or understanding Sudden severe headache with no obvious cause

21 Symptoms

22 Treatment Time is critical Call 999 Keep patient in comfortable position Do not give food or drink Reassure patient

23 Mary video Patient Interview video

24 Seizures/Fits

25 Seizures Definition: Uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical convulsion Approximately 2% of people will have 2 or more seizures in their lifetime In the UK 65 people suffer their first seizure every day Epilepsy: the tendency to have recurrent seizures. It has many causes

26 Anatomy & Physiology Normal brain function requires an orderly, organized, coordinated discharge of electrical impulses Electrical impulses enable the brain to communicate with the spinal cord, nerves, and muscles as well as within itself Seizures may result when the brain's electrical activity is disrupted

27 Pathophysiology Causes of seizures: Head injury Flashing lights Alcohol Drugs Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) Brain tumour In many seizures no cause is identified

28 nuw

29 Treatment Protect patient from injury Place in recovery position when seizure finished Reassure patient Do not restrain patient or put anything in mouth Stay with patient until recovery complete Be aware of anxious friends/relatives

30 Treatment Call 999 If First seizure Seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes Injury sustained You think its necessary

31 Syncope (fainting) Loss of consciousness due to temporary reduction in blood flow to the brain Twice as common in women Often preceded by feeling of light headedness, dizziness or visual disturbance Many causes Emotional Prolonged standing Exercise

32 Syncope - Treatment Lie patient down and raise legs Manage airway if necessary Remove environmental stimuli If patient is kept upright fitting may occur If conscioussness not regained after a few minutes, call 999

33 999 Call

34 999 Calls Handled centrally (no local knowledge) If landline used address automatically recognised If mobile used then location will be first question asked Main problem, gender, age Is patient alert and breathing Further questions and advice will follow depending on situation LOCATION MAIN PRIORITY

35 Street Medicine

Circulation and Cardiac Emergencies. Emergency Medical Response

Circulation and Cardiac Emergencies Lesson 19: The Circulatory System and Cardiac Emergencies You Are the Emergency Medical Responder You are called to the home of a 50-year-old man whose wife called 9-1-1