Veterinary TPR and Triage Techniques

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of triage in emergency care?

To provide in-depth treatment to all patients

To only focus on patients who have major injuries

To quickly assess and prioritize patients based on urgency (correct)

To conduct a complete medical history of every patient

Which of the following is NOT a crucial component of the quick physical exam during triage?

Auscultation of heart and lungs

Medical history review (correct)

Temperature, pulse, respiration (TPR)

Assessment for trauma and obvious wounds

What is an essential action regarding the crash cart used in emergencies?

Perform routine maintenance to ensure supplies are ready (correct)

Stock the cart only with medications

Keep the cart hidden for security

Place the cart in a remote area of the facility

Which medication would most likely be included in a crash cart for treating cardiac emergencies?

Lidocaine Signup and view all the answers

What piece of airway equipment is essential for assisting breathing in a patient?

Ambu Bag Signup and view all the answers

What type of information should be gathered in the brief history during triage?

Chief complaint and medical diagnoses Signup and view all the answers

Which question is important to ask the pet owner during triage?

Do you have permission to perform diagnostics? Signup and view all the answers

Which item would be considered a miscellaneous supply in a crash cart?

Bandage scissors Signup and view all the answers

Which temperature site is considered the most accurate for assessing body temperature?

Esophageal Signup and view all the answers

What does a weak pulse indicate in a patient?

Decreased cardiac output Signup and view all the answers

In the context of respiratory assessment, what does 'stridor' indicate?

Loud, high-pitched sound indicating airway obstruction Signup and view all the answers

What does a capillary refill time greater than 2 seconds suggest?

Vasoconstriction Signup and view all the answers

What is the normal respiratory rate range for a canine?

60-180 breaths per minute Signup and view all the answers

What color of mucus membranes indicates inadequate oxygenation and is considered an emergency?

Cyanotic Signup and view all the answers

In triage, what primarily determines the order in which patients are seen?

The severity of the patient's condition Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by a 'bounding pulse'?

Significantly increased difference between systole and diastole Signup and view all the answers

Which condition would most likely cause pale mucus membranes?

Shock Signup and view all the answers

What type of respiration pattern is characterized by labored breathing during expiration and short inspiration?

Expiration distress Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

TPRs and Triage

Veterinarians rely on technicians for patient monitoring under anesthesia.
Technicians need to recognize normal and abnormal patient conditions.
Technicians provide thorough patient histories.
Technicians perform triage on patients entering the clinic

Temperature Sites

Rectal
Axillary
Inguinal
Aural
Body surface (IFT)
Esophageal

Temperature Equivalents

Fahrenheit to Celsius: F° = (C° x 9/5) + 32
Celsius to Fahrenheit: C° = (F° − 32) x 5/9

Pulse

Reflects perfusion to peripheral tissues
Locate artery over bone/firm tissue (e.g., femoral, dorsal pedal, facial/submandibular, digital, lingual).
A strong pulse should be easily palpable.

Bounding Pulse

Large difference between systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation)
Use analgesics and fluids for weak pulses

Respiration

Respiratory tract includes nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, and lungs.
Signs of respiratory distress: increased rate, changes in pattern, postural changes, open-mouthed/labored breathing.

Respiratory Patterns

Stridor: nasal/pharyngeal airway sounds
Stertor: snoring sound
Rapid/shallow breathing
Labored breathing during inspiration/expiration
Expiration distress with short inspirations
Wheezing: lower airway sounds

Capillary Refill Time (CRT)

Normal is 1-2 seconds.
2 seconds: vasoconstriction, impaired perfusion; aggressive fluids/oxygen therapy required.
<1 second: vasodilation; anxiety, shock, fever, pain.

MM Color

Pink: Normal, adequate perfusion
Cyanotic: Inadequate oxygenation to periphery, hypoxia
Icteric: Bilirubin interpretation, liver issues
Brick Red: Excessive vasodilation, inflammatory response
Pale: Poor perfusion, anemia, shock, injury
Brown: Methemoglobinemia, acetaminophen toxicity, poisoning
Petechia: Coagulation disorder, DIC, platelet issues

Normal Ranges

Animal	Heart Rate	Respiratory Rate	Body Temperature
Canine	60-180	10-30	100°–102.5° F
Feline	120-240	15-30	100°–102.5° F
Equine	30-45	8-20	99°–100.5° F
Bovine	60-80	8-20	100°–102.5° F

Triage

Triage is a French word meaning "to sort" or "to select."
Severity of illness, not arrival time, determines patient treatment priority.
Triage Levels include critical (Level 1), urgent (Level 2), and important (Level 3).

Primary Survey

Airway/Attitude, Breathing/Bleeding, Cardiovascular/Circulation

Triage – Patient Assessment

Look: Patient responsiveness, active bleeding, breathing.
Listen: Auscultate heart, lungs, and trachea.
Feel: Palpate pulse, check for obvious trauma.

Triage – Brief History

Chief complaint
Time frame
Actions taken so far
Prior hospital visit details
Diagnoses
Medications

Triage – Important Questions

Resuscitation status
Permission to give medications
Permission to perform diagnostics
Cost

Triage – Quick Physical Exam

TPR (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration)
MM (Mucous Membrane color)
CRT (Capillary refill time)
Auscultate heart and lungs
Weight
Trauma (obvious fractures, wounds)

Crash Cart

Routine maintenance, labeling, central location are critical.
Includes airway, venous, cardiovascular supplies.
Includes medications (epinephrine, atropine, naloxone, lidocaine, dextrose, diazepam, etc.) and miscellaneous items (gloves, surgical blades, alcohol).
Optional premade kits for common situations (e.g, thoracocentesis, blocked cat)

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Description

This quiz covers essential topics in veterinary medicine, focusing on TPRs (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration) and triage procedures. It highlights the role of technicians in monitoring patient conditions and understanding temperature measurement sites and equivalents. Test your knowledge on assessing patient status and managing anesthesia effectively.