|
Post by Barry on Jun 24, 2015 21:45:13 GMT
Hi Team, Here is the second topic to let me know your thoughts;
What is homeostasis, why is it important to understand homeostasis and how it effects the body?
|
|
|
Post by Gerald C on Jun 25, 2015 10:18:39 GMT
Homeostasis, as a broad definition and from a my year 11 (Form 5/School Cert for us old fullas) is "maintenance of near constant conditions in the body" (but actually applies across all biological organisms). In terms of the human body, therefore, it is the way various body systems (nervous (CNS/ANS), respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, urinary...) within our bodies regulate such that they are in a relatively constant and stable state. These systems will respond (via negative or positive feedback)to various external and internal influences to maintain that balance or consistency.
From a paramedicine point of view it is important to have a base understanding of homeostasis in that while we are assessing a pt's vital signs we are gaining clues as to what might be wrong with the patient and which of the pt's systems may be out of kilter or unbalanced. A vital sign or two that are out of 'normal' parameters will/could indicate issues with one or more of the body's systems which will then help with our further questioning of the pt, diagnosis and treatment thereafter.
This is my quick response as I have now ran out of time before heading away for some pre-planned leave. Over and out.
G
|
|
kat
New Member
Posts: 8
|
Post by kat on Jun 27, 2015 1:06:49 GMT
Hi Guys, I am hoping I have this forum thing worked out this time. Perfusion is all of the above and Homeostasis in relation to perfusion is something we have to take care when we do our secondary survey in relation to vital signs. The body is really good at compensating when things are out of balance as we have learnt with homeostasis and by the time we have been called the body is no longer able to do so.
|
|
|
Post by modeliciousbaby on Jun 29, 2015 23:05:13 GMT
I believe it does. the body has a set limit on each environment. If one of these limits increases or decreases, the body will sense and automatically try to fix the problem in order to maintain the pre-set limits
For e.g if one presents itself with a infection then develops a high fever that is the bodys Homeostatis state. The body accommodates what is needed to fight the infection to become stable again.
|
|
|
Post by Brendoon on Jul 2, 2015 9:16:27 GMT
Hey everyone Homeo = same or similar Stasis = stable
So everything in our body is as it should be, all systems doing their thing. Responding to various stimuli via positive and negative feedback loops. And as this happens, as far as I can work out, your body compensates by a number of mechanisms (e.g. constant changes in diameter of blood vessels, glucose regulation, metabolism etc) ?!. So if your body, in a homoeostatic state is our baseline range for our vital signs. Then as your body compensates it is going to possibly throw any vital sign outside of acceptable limits, giving us clues as to what might be going on with our patient. And then hopefully look after them.
And this is my picture, see you all in the weekend
|
|
|
Post by gerardb on Jul 3, 2015 8:29:35 GMT
We have introduced the concept of perfusion, what does perfusion mean to you and how would you measure it? Hi All I realise I am sneaking in quite late to this 'party', but thought I would add my penny's worth. Up until completing the Vital Signs online activity, I knew perfusion was related to blood flow, in particular, as it pertains to peripheral circulation, but I thought about it mainly in terms of appearance - i.e. does the patient appear to be well perfused? So, with this somewhat narrow understanding I would assess the patient's perfusion based on the colour of their face, mucosa, upper chest and extremities. However, thinking about the incidents I have attended, I realise now that many of the other aspects that make up a 'perfusion assessment' (e.g. LOC, limb temperature, capillary refill, etc.) were assessed and recorded, but were done so 'independently', for want of a better expression. After the completion of the VS activity though, I see now how pulse, peripheral circulation and LOC all combine to indicate a patient's perfusion status. It should have been obvious now I think about it lol!
|
|
|
Post by gerardb on Jul 3, 2015 8:35:18 GMT
Hi Team, Some great answers here so let me pose this with you all; does this mean we are all in the homeostatic state when we are perfused well? Look forward to your answers Barry In answer to Barry's part B of the perfusion question, namely does good perfusion = a homeostatic state, I do not know enough A & P or pathophysiology to be able to answer this question definitively. The answer that immediately comes to mind, however, is no - good perfusion does not necessary indicate a person is in a homeostatic state. The body is a marvellous, complex organism capable of truly incredible things. Its ability to compensate in one area for deficits in another is quite extraordinary. Therefore, in the context of this question, a patient's positive perfusion status may very well be the result of compensation for some injury or illness. In short, a patient may present with good perfusion but be far from being in a homeostatic state.
|
|
|
Post by gerardb on Jul 3, 2015 8:59:10 GMT
Hi Team, Here is the second topic to let me know your thoughts; What is homeostasis, why is it important to understand homeostasis and how it effects the body? The first word that comes to mind when I think about homeostasis is balance. This is a very simplistic way of viewing homeostasis, I know, but I think it nicely sums up the essence of what it is. The human body strives to constantly remain in balance. It responds rapidly to any internal changes (which may result from external or internal stimuli) and initiates compensatory mechanisms designed to reverse or negate those changes. We need to understand the role that homeostasis plays in our general health and wellness in order to better understand the effects on the body when homeostatic mechanisms breakdown or fail to perform adequately.
|
|
|
Post by Barry on Jul 31, 2015 0:21:36 GMT
We know that adults and children have differences in their form and function (anatomy and physiology). What are these differences? What impact do these differences have on our management? Should we be managing them differently?
|
|
kat
New Member
Posts: 8
|
Post by kat on Jul 31, 2015 5:33:41 GMT
Yay I am first ok, the most important thing to remember when dealing with children is "Children are not small adults". There are a number of factors you need to take into consideration in regards to this statement. Their A&P is different to an adult in that their head is proportionately bigger. This is relevant because it has issues in regard to airway management and also head movement. The head movement we need to consider in a trauma situation. The questioning has to be directed at the caregiver for the little ones that can't answer for themselves. Easy questioning that is age appropriate for the rest of the age group. For our older age group, the teenagers, questioning in the ambulance in a private setting maybe more effective in that you get more honest answers than questioning them in front of their friends and family. With children the importance of the appearance of the patient gives you a lot of information. The signs you see rather than the symptom, for example a child who is SOB, you would be looking for the work of breathing, blue colouring around the lips, level of activity, capillary refill, skin turgor. Questioning of importance as in, how many wet nappies?, is this normal for them?, is this their normal cry? I think that the biggest difference between children and adults is the ability to deteriorate very quickly as their ability to compensate is limited before going into decompensating then respiratory arrest then cardiac arrest.
|
|
|
Post by Brendoon on Aug 4, 2015 22:00:19 GMT
Hey hey hey ! Wow tough act to follow there Kat!! Children... they are different to adults. In general they have a larger head 'proportionately' and there are differences in their respiratory system. They have narrower airways, larger tongue and a faster respiratory rate. The cardiovascular system works a little harder with a faster heart rate, but a lower blood pressure. Having a larger tongue and a smaller airway makes a difference to how we would open up that airway. For instance if we tilt back the head of a small child to far (as they are much more flexible than us) we could actually cut off the airway. They tend to become anxious of strangers, especially in big green uniforms holding funny gadgets they have never seen before. Which could raise the respiratory rate and or heart rate. Often we are unable to gather information verbally so it becomes even more important to look at things like work of breathing, are they pale, anxious, normal activity, feel their hands and feet, warm, sweaty etc, capillary refill, Oxygen saturation. Information from caregivers is important, things like usual sounds, crying, normal number of wet nappies? Could be a sign of compensating and going into shock. Its also important to involve parents or caregivers in the care of their child, informed consent. Explain what is happening, what we are doing. Parents could become distressed and then more difficult to manage.
|
|
|
Post by Barry on Aug 5, 2015 2:14:41 GMT
Hi Guys, Great answers but how else can we assess children? What tool do we use and what does it tell us?
|
|
|
Post by Brendoon on Aug 5, 2015 8:16:47 GMT
Is that the PAT assessment? It is an assessment of Activity, Breathing and Circulation. The more abnormal the PAT, then the more severe the illness or injury is likely to be.
|
|
|
Post by Barry on Aug 5, 2015 22:44:31 GMT
How does PAT break it down so we can assess the child and what else can we do to get the right info for our treatment for the patient?
|
|
|
Post by Barry on Aug 5, 2015 22:51:29 GMT
Hi Team, Here is you next 2 weeks question, give me some great answers as I look forward to what you think;
Older people often fall and injure, even fracture, their hip. In particular the area that may fracture in a fall is at the neck of the femur – where the femur meets the pelvis. Why is it so common for older people to fracture their hip? What can be done to prevent this type of injury?
|
|