Oncologic Emergencies are both life threatening and detrimental to a patient’s health. As stated by (Tan), “An oncologic emergency is a clinical condition resulting from a structural or metabolic change caused by cancer or its treatment that requires immediate medical intervention to prevent loss of life or quality of life.” Oncologic emergencies can be further classified as metabolic, hematologic, neurologic, or cardiovascular. Superior vena cava syndrome and spinal cord compression can be considered oncologic emergencies. Superior vena cava syndrome is classified as cardiovascular while spinal cord compression is classified as neurologic and/or structural. Treatment options vary depending on the severity of the disease. When …show more content…
Invasion or external compression can cause an SVC blockage. One way external compression can occur is by the involvement of lymph nodes. When cancer is present in the body, there is a chance that it can spread to surrounding lymph nodes. If this occurs, the lymph nodes can enlarge and compress the SVC and cause an obstruction. Other ways external compression can occur are by the right lung, other mediastinal structures, or by thrombosis of blood within the vein itself. As blood flow becomes blocked, the blood from the upper body is unable to drain back into the heart correctly. These collaterals provide an alternate pathway so the blood can ultimately reach the right atrium. Collateral veins can originate from the azygos vein, lateral thoracic, inter mammary, and esophageal venous systems. Over a time period of several weeks, the alternate pathways begin to dilate which results in venous pressure in the upper body to elevate. By the venous pressure remaining elevated, signs and symptoms will become noticeable. How quickly the signs and symptoms manifest is dependent upon how fast the SVC becomes congested in relation to the formation of venous collaterals. Research states that “Patients with malignant disease may develop symptoms of SVC syndrome within weeks to months because rapid tumor growth does not allow adequate time to develop collateral flow.” (Drews and Rabkin) Out of all the signs and symptoms that can occur,
Discuss the following life-threatening oncologic emergencies that may develop in children with cancer as a result of malignancy and/or aggressive treatment of the malignancy: tumor lysis syndrome, hyperleukocytosis, superior vena cava syndrome, spinal cord compression, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Pg.
Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort, SC is no exception to this rule. With much of Beaufort County and the surrounding counties being rural and with a high poverty rate Beaufort Memorial experiences a high level of underinsured and indigent care. In 2012 the Medicaid
The role of the emergency department is to diagnose and treat acute and urgent illnesses and injuries. Patients are seen in order of medical urgency. The emergency department bases the patients urgency for treatment based on levels. Level 1 is critical and life-threatening. This is usually related to ABC’s (Airway, Breathing, and Circulation). These patients are top priority and require a lifesaving intervention. Level 2 is also considered high priority and can also be life-threatening. Psychiatric patients are considered level 2, and patients arriving to the ED with chest pain. Level 3 patients require resources such as sutures, x-rays, CAT scans, MRI, etc. Level 3 patients are provided treatment services only after Level 1 and 2 have been addressed. The emergency department at CEMC also has a trauma room and a SANE room. The trauma room is equipped with life-saving medications (such as antidotes for drug overdose) and medical equipment. The SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) room consists of equipment used to assess a patient who has been sexually assaulted. The equipment takes pictures of the patient for the SANE nurse to later provide to law enforcement. A SANE nurse is a specialty nurse and CEMC has one on call 24/7.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) happens when a blood clot forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, it usually takes place in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause swelling or leg pains, and you may not get any symptoms at all. Deep vein thrombosis can arise if you have certain medical conditions that affect how your blood clots. Deep vein thrombosis can also happen if you don't move for a long time. I can happen sitting in a car for too long, after surgery, following an accident, or when you are confined to a hospital or nursing home bed. DVT is a serious condition because blood clots in your veins can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and lodge in your lungs. It can block the blood flow and cause a pulmonary embolism.
Thanks for the great post. Considering the patient personal and family history, your diagnosis is appropriate, although a confirmatory diagnostic tests and referral to a surgeon is highly recommended. I do also agree with the treatment plan of chemotherapy and radiation in most cases before surgery to reduce the tumor size and prevent metastasis. To help the patient with the tough time and improve the healing process, providing adequate support (education and emotional) is advise. Encourage the patient to enjoy times with family and friends, rent a comedy movie, practice meditation or prayers will be beneficial. The patient should be encouraged to appreciate and enjoy each day as a gift, also seek healing and optimal health.
At today’s visit the patient is awake, alert and oriented. He reports that he has loss 8 lbs recently. He has a poor appetite and has not been taking his megace. He reports generalized neoplasm pain, which he describes as aching with a severity of 4/10. He reports that his pain does not radiate and there are no aggravating factors. He reports that his pain is manage with his current pain regimen of
Four emergencies a medical office should be prepared and equipped to handle are fire, cardiac arrest, seizers, and bleeding. Fire can happen any time so it important know where the exit, calm and not running around. Cardiac arrest- heart attack is also can happen to a patient at anytime in the doctor office and we would need to know CPR procedure. Seizers is another one that can happen to the patient and we need to make sure that the patient not left alone. Another big thing bleeding, when bleeding happen we need to protect our self and the
Metastatic Spinal cord compression (MSCC) complicates cancer patient’s movement capabilities with pain included. When patient’s deal with this diagnosis they are terminal in the illness. The last stage has unsafe complications from deep vein thrombosis to delicate walking to bed sores. Some devices avoid further damage to the spinal column but are sometimes unsuccessful in providing the desired effects expected. When health care providers manage these situations they face controversies from the suggested recommendations.
Paraneoplastic syndromes is also one of lung cancer’s symptoms. Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system are rare disorders that occur when organs or tissues are damaged at locations remote from the original tumor. It can impair many organ functions, so sometimes doctor will not notice is caused by lung cancer. Paraneoplastic syndromes developed in an approximately 10% of lung cancer patients, and it is commonly associated with small cell lung cancer. Other paraneoplastic syndromes includes humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy in squamous cell carcinoma and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). In SIADH, cancer cells produce ADH that lowers the salt levels in blood by causing the kidney to hold water. Symptoms
Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome results from any condition that leads to obstruction of blood flow through the SVC. Obstruction can be caused by invasion or external compression of the SVC by adjacent pathologic processes involving the right lung, lymph nodes, and other mediastinal structures, or by thrombosis of blood within the SVC. In some cases, both external compression and thrombosis coexist [ 1] .
The study was conducted to measure the individual liberty when it comes to restrictions on disease spreading I terms of quarantine. Although there multiple hardships that the public health emergency officials have to go through such as the quarantine of the healthy individuals that might have been exposed in their private houses or isolating of the individuals who is already infecting or exposed and the need to be isolated. Although families feel threatening when they are being quarantine however if it is performed in the right way it does helps n term of precautions education
Picture this scenario: You are working in the emergency room of a public hospital where the
The metastasis of cancer causes serious complications on the body of a patient, with these having a high potential to lead to death. Cancer that originates in the lungs or spreads to the lungs or the accessory muscles can bring about breathing difficulties and suffocation. Cancer may also spread to the tissues of the brain and the spinal cord to cause neurological manifestations affecting the nervous system of a person. The most common complication of cancer is the chronic pain (Lovell et al., 2014), which could be coming from the tumor itself as its growth and creates pressure, pushes other tissues and organs and invade or destroy nerves that then cause painful sensations. Bone pain is also very common when cancer has spread to the bone tissue.
In the event of a physical emergency, there are many things that I must do to ensure that I will get the care I need. If I find myself in a situation that I need care immediately, I will call 911 or have someone call for me. I will have the ambulance take me to the Canton Beaumont Medical Center, and if I need to be transferred after that, I will have them take me to Beaumont Dearborn. If I can, I will also call my dad and let him know that I am hurt/going to the hospital. If I cannot physically make the call, I will have someone else call him for me or I will try to text him. He is the family member I should try to contact first because he is most likely to have his phone on him, and he can spread the word to other
Major types of Emergencies are the following -evacuation -explosion and bomb alerts -external emergencies and natural disasters, such as: • explosion • fire • flood • hazardous chemical spill • storm • traffic accident -internal emergencies, such as: • loss of power • loss of water supply • structural collapse -security emergencies, such as: • armed robberies • intruders • disturbed persons -serious injury events. Examples of emergencies includes • Bomb threats and suspected devices • Death at the workplace or during a work activity • Death of staff not work related • Earthquake/ collapse of building • Electrical hazard • Explosion • Fire • Flood • Fumes/ chemical spill/ contamination by hazardous materials • Gas leak • Infectious diseases • Letter and parcel bombs -white powder letters • Pedestrian accidents • Serious violence • Staff lost on excursions • Storms • Suicide • Drought 2.2. Actions required are identified to contain or limit potential emergencies.