Vital Signs and normal values

* A constancy in the internal environment of the body

* Naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival

* Body Temperature

* Respiratory Rate

* Pulse / Heart Rate

* Blood Pressure

* Sensorium (mental alertness)

*Oral*Rectal*Axillary*Tympanic*Temporal

Hyperthermia*Fever, febrile

*Temperature higher than 99.5 °F

Hypothermia *below normal range of

97.7 °F

*Due to

*Environment

*Medically induced

*Damage to hypothalamus

* Body Temperature

* Respiratory Rate

* Pulse / Heart Rate

* Blood Pressure

* Sensorium (mental alertness)

* Adults: 12 – 20 bpm

* Children: 20 – 30 bpm

* Newborns: 30 – 60 bpm

• Respiratory System

delivers

oxygen to the

body’s tissues

eliminates carbon

dioxide

• Pt will die without the

removal of CO2 and

addition of O2

Ventilators

Nasal Cannula

Oxyhood

Masks

*Tachypnea

*Greater than 20 breaths per minute (adult)

*Bradypnea – decrease is breathing

*Dyspnea- difficulty breathing

*Apnea- no breathing

*Normal Pulse Oximeter = 95% to 100%

* Body Temperature

* Respiratory Rate

* Pulse / Heart Rate

* Blood Pressure

* Sensorium (mental alertness)

*Adult

*60 to 100 beats per minute

*Children under 10

*70 to 120 beats per minute

*Radial artery

*Brachial

*Carotid artery

*Apical pulses

* Body Temperature

* Respiratory Rate

* Pulse / Heart Rate

* Blood Pressure

* Sensorium (mental alertness)

* Measure of the force exerted by blood on the arterial walls during contraction & relaxation.

* Measured pressure when the heart is relaxed: Diastolic

* Measured pressure when the heart is contracted: Systolic

* Measured with a Sphygmomanometer

* Recorded in millimeters of mercury

(mm Hg) with systolic over diastolic

* Normal adult systolic: 95-140 mm Hg

* Normal adult diastolic: 60-90 mm Hg

* 120/80 mmHg considered normal

*Hypertension

*Persistently elevation

*above 140/90 mmHg

*Hypotension

*Persistently less

*than 95/60 mmHg

* Body Temperature

* Respiratory Rate

* Pulse / Heart Rate

* Blood Pressure

* Sensorium (mental alertness)

State of conscious awareness:alert and engaged-walky-

talkyalert but not engagednot alert, sleepy, eyes

closedaltered states of

consciousness

Sensorium (mental alertness)Sensorium (mental alertness)

Not common in x-ray department but always possible

Dislocation of the C3 and C4 articular processes

Note that C7 is not well demonstrated

Some studies of spinal trauma have recorded a missed injury rate as high as 33%.

Seen much more frequently in the xray department

*What a Radiologic technologist should know

*Common Radiology Emergencies

1.Ensure an open airway (ABC’s)

2.Control Bleeding

3.Take Measures to Prevent shock

4. Attend to wounds or fractures

5.Provide emotional support

6. Continually reevaluate and follow up

* Sudden change in medical status requiring immediate action.

*For RT’s medical emergencies are rare* Recognize emergencies

*Remain calm and confident

*Avoid additional harm to the patient

*Obtain appropriate medical assistance quickly

*Know where crash cart is, emergency phone and code blue buttons

*Know where it is in your department

*Familiarize yourself with its contents*Have BLS with AED

training

*Have one in the room when an iodinated contrast media will be used

1. ALOC2. Shock3. Anaphylactic shock4. Diabetic Crisis5. Respiratory Distress6. Cardiac Arrest7. Cerebrovascular accident

Levels of consciousness1. Least severe

* Responsive

2. More serious* Can be roused, but drowsy

3. Even more serious* Responds to pinches or

pinpricks

4. Most serious* Comatose, non-responsive

*Hypovolemic*Loss of blood or tissue

*Cardiogenic*Cardiac disorders

*Neurogenic*Spinal anesthesia or damage to spinal cord

*Vasogenic*Caused by sepsis, deep anesthesia or anaphylaxis

*An allergic reaction to contrast media*Iodinated

*Can happen quickly or have a delayed reaction

*Requires prompt recognition and treatment from the technologist

*More severe usually have quick onset

*Less severe takes longer for reaction

1. Hypoglycemia

2. Hyperglycemia

*Excessive insulin- low blood sugar

* Can result from normal dose of insulin & no food

*Need carbohydrate

*Excessive sugar- low insulin

*Usually seen in diabetics

* Pt. needs insulin

1. Asthma

2. Choking

1. Stressful situations

2. Inhaler or medical assistance

3. Remain calm and confident

1.Cannot speak2.Universal distress signal3.Encourage to cough4.Heimlich Maneuver

1. Crushing pain in chest

2. Pain down arm

3. Begin CPR and use AED

1.Paralysis on one or both sides2.Slurred or loss of speech3.Dizziness4.Loss of vision5.Complete unconsciousness

*Tell pt to breath deeply and slowly

*Turn on side if possible or turn head

*Get emesis basin and moist cloths

*You never know when a medical emergency may occur.

*Helping your patients depends on your abilities to stay calm and perform you duties!