During most surgeries, the patient is made unconscious and paralyzed to protect him from pain and damage from involuntary movement. As a result of this paralysis, machines called ventilators must take over the work of breathing for the patient. A...
Dexmedetomidine is a medication used for sedation in patients who are intubated or mechanically ventilated. Intubation and mechanical ventilation are artificial methods to help you breath if you are unable to do so by yourself. According to the...
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a form of mechanical ventilation that assists a person with the work of breathing and thus allow better gas exchange within the lungs. CPAP machines are used in a variety of situations, both inside and...
Placing a tube within the gastrointestinal tract for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes is medically termed as gastrointestinal intubation, according to "Understanding Medical Surgical Nursing" by Linda Williams and Paula Hopper. A variety of...
To initially treat toxic shock syndrome (TSS). eliminate the source of infection. If you are using a diaphragm, cervical cap or tampon and develop TSS symptoms, such as high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and extremely low blood pressure, remove the...
Proper anesthesia not only prevents patients from feeling pain during a procedure but also provides an amnesic affect. According to the SurgeryEncyclopedia.com, general anesthesia induces unconsciousness, prevents pain sensation and paralyzes the...
Oxygen is necessary for the cells in your body to make energy and survive. Since a person cannot live without oxygen it is important to address oxygen deficiency in any illness that can cause such a deficiency. Most commonly these are lung and...
Alcohol overdose, or alcohol poisoning, is a critical situation and emergency treatment is required. Overdose can lead to a coma or death occurring. Alcohol poisoning happens when a person consumes more alcohol than the body is able to metabolize...
Curare is a substance extracted from certain South American plants like Strychnos toxifera. It was first used to coat darts and arrows to paralyze and kill animals and people by natives to the Amazon and Orinoco regions. It has been reproduced...
According to Mayo Clinic, asthma attacks occur when the airways suddenly narrow and swell. This can cause symptoms of cough, wheezing and difficulty breathing. Not only are these symptoms distressing, they can become life-threatening if not...
Premature infants are babies who are born before the 37th week of gestation. A premature birth shortens the time for development and maturation in the womb. The risk of complications increases the earlier the baby is born. The result is an...
In a stroke, one small blood clot can cause facial drooping, problems with speech, paralysis and cognitive deficits. Preparation and early intervention are important. Once the physician rules out a hemorrhagic stroke, tissue plasminogen activator...
A newborn's pulse rate is the number of times his heart beats per minute. This rhythmic beating occurs each time the ventricle of the heart contracts to pump blood through the cardiovascular system. A normal pulse rate indicates that the heart is...
An inadequate blood and oxygen supply to the heart causes cardiac muscle to die off and form areas of necrotic (ischemic) tissue. Whether large or small, the areas of ischemia compromise cardiac function and reduce systemic perfusion. Over time,...
The number-one priority when it comes to treating Pierre Robin syndrome is protecting your child's airway. The jaw or the tongue or both can obstruct the airway. If your newborn with Pierre Robin syndrome is having trouble breathing, a nasal...
The H1N1 influenza virus is the virus responsible for the swine flu. The H1N1 influenza virus primarily affects young people, children and infants. Infants are particularly vulnerable because they have never been exposed to similar viruses and...
According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," shock is defined as multisystem organ hypoperfusion. Blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues are impeded. Shock may be due to trauma, heatstroke, blood loss, an allergic reaction,...
H1N1 influenza, or the swine flu, is a novel influenza virus. The virus circulates during the year, with increased prevalence during the winter months. It is transmitted from person to person via airborne droplets from coughs or sneezes. But...
Breathing problems are a common complaint of patients coming into emergency rooms. They frequently stem from heart or lung problems such as congestive heart failure or asthma but can also be caused by other factors such as panic attacks. A number...
You should avoid coffee if you experience symptoms of acid reflux. Acid reflux is also known as heartburn, a condition in which foods and stomach acid leak upward from the stomach into your esophagus, causing irritation to the soft lining of the...
Asthma, a disease of the airways, has become increasingly common in industrialized nations. According to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine," it affects about 15 percent of children and 10 percent of adults in affluent...
According to the Merck Manual Home Edition, asthma affects more than 20 million people in the United States. Asthma occurs when the airways narrow in response to certain allergens or irritants. People with asthma experience coughing, wheezing and...
Bronchospasm refers to a condition in which the airway muscles suddenly constrict. This can severely compromise breathing because not enough air can be inhaled. Sometimes, cold, exercise and allergens can trigger bronchospasm, but a virus can also...
Severe allergic reactions can manifest as rashes. The type of rash is dependent on the allergen to which you're exposed, the duration of exposure, and the mechanism of your body's response. Usually allergic rashes can be treated with...
A cerebrovascular incident, or stroke, is a compromise of the blood vessels to deliver blood to an area of the brain, potentially causing brain damage. It can either be an occlusion of the vessel lumen, known as ischemic stroke, or a rupture of...
Pneumocystis pneumonia is caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, a fungus that is commonly found in the soil. Pneumocystis jirovecii used to be called Pneumocystis carinii, but the taxonomy was changed. The new taxonomy differentiates between...
Overview EMT stands for emergency medical technician. EMTs are trained to provide emergency care for injured or sick people before they arrive at the hospital, or before people with more advanced medical training arrive on the scene. EMT-B is the...
Twilight anesthesia, more commonly known as conscious sedation or sedation analgesia, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists, consists of intravenous medications to decrease pain, reduce anxiety and facilitate relaxation during...
Continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, is most commonly used in sleep medicine, but has other uses as well. For sleep apnea, CPAP provides continuous ventilatory support by pushing air or an air/oxygen mixture, at a set pressure, into the...
Smoke inhalation is a condition caused by inhaling fumes or gases of combustion (inflamed material). Learn more about smoke inhalation, including symptoms and treatments, in this health video.
Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas that attaches to blood vessels more easily than oxygen, thus keeping oxygen out of your bloodstream. Learn more about carbon monoxide including treatments and symptoms in this medical video.
