VTS (ECC) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Hemorrhage Stage II

Blood loss of 15-30% with tachycardia, narrow pulse pressure, and mild obtundation; requires crystalloid resuscitation and monitoring for progression to stage III.

Transfusion Reaction Signs

Fever, hemoglobinuria, hypotension, vomiting, and urticaria within minutes to hours of transfusion; stop the transfusion immediately and maintain IV access with crystalloids.

Fluid Bolus Dose

Dogs receive 20 mL/kg and cats 10 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid per bolus, reassessed after each bolus; synthetic colloid shock dose is 5-10 mL/kg.

Maintenance Fluid Rate

Approximately 2-4 mL/kg/hr in dogs and cats; reduce to 1-2 mL/kg/hr in patients at risk of volume overload such as cardiac or oliguric renal disease.

Modified Glasgow Coma Scale

Scores motor activity, brainstem reflexes, and level of consciousness; a score of 8 or less carries a poor prognosis and warrants aggressive support.

CPR Compression Rate

Compressions at 100-120/min with a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio without an advanced airway; reassess rhythm every 2 minutes.

Hyperkalemia Cardioprotection

10% calcium gluconate 0.5-1 mL/kg IV over 10-15 minutes for bradycardia or widened QRS, followed by regular insulin with dextrose and fluid diuresis.

Hypoglycemia Treatment

Give 0.5-1 mL/kg of 50% dextrose diluted 1:1 to 1:4 in saline slowly IV, then a CRI of 2-5% dextrose in maintenance fluids.

GDV Decompression

Immediate trocarization or orogastric tube decompression, fluid resuscitation, and surgery; do not delay stabilization for radiographs in an unstable patient.

Post-Obstructive Diuresis

After relieving feline urethral obstruction, monitor for large urine output, recheck potassium and renal values, and replace fluids to match losses.

Heatstroke Cooling Target

Active cooling with cool water, fans, and IV fluids to a target of 103 F (39.4 C), avoiding overcooling, while monitoring for DIC and renal failure.

Emergency Drug Doses

Atropine 0.04 mg/kg IV for bradycardia; lidocaine 2 mg/kg IV for ventricular arrhythmias; furosemide 2-4 mg/kg IV for pulmonary edema.

Anaphylaxis Treatment

Epinephrine 0.01 mg/kg IM (1:1,000) or IV (1:10,000) is first-line for hypotension and bronchospasm, along with IV fluids and antihistamines.

DKA Fluid Plan

Correct dehydration with 0.9% saline, add dextrose when glucose falls below 250 mg/dL, and give insulin only after potassium is above 3.5 mEq/L.

Seizure First-Line Drug

Benzodiazepines such as diazepam 0.5 mg/kg IV or midazolam 0.2 mg/kg IV/IM; refractory seizures may require levetiracetam or phenobarbital.

Resting Energy Requirement

RER = 70 x (body weight in kg raised to 0.75); start enteral feeding at one-third to one-half of RER in the critically ill patient.

Normal Canine Vital Signs

Temperature 100.5-102.5 F (38-39.2 C), heart rate 60-160 bpm, and respiratory rate 10-30/min; feline heart rate is 140-220 bpm.

Drug Dose Formula

Dose (mg/kg) x body weight (kg) = total mg; volume to administer = total mg divided by concentration (mg/mL); confirm units before drawing up.

VTS Certification Requirements

Graduation from an AVMA-accredited program, credentialing, a minimum of 3 years of specialty experience with a case log, and a passing examination.

Controlled Substance Logging

A perpetual inventory records date, patient, amount, and personnel for each controlled substance; discrepancies must be reported and reconciled per federal and state law.

15% Rule

A 15% increase in kVp approximately doubles exposure; mAs controls quantity while kVp controls penetration and contrast in radiography.

Waste Gas Exposure Limits

OSHA limits are 2 ppm for halogenated anesthetic agents and 25 ppm for nitrous oxide over an 8-hour period; use scavenging and PPE.

Anesthetic Monitoring Interval

Record HR, RR, mucous membrane color, CRT, blood pressure, temperature, and SpO2 every 5-10 minutes; maintain MAP at 60 mmHg or greater.

Medical Record Retention

Medical records are legal documents retained per state statute, commonly 3-5 years; document risks, benefits, and alternatives for informed consent.

Pounds to Kilograms

Divide pounds by 2.2 to convert to kilograms; convert Celsius to Fahrenheit by (C x 1.8) + 32 and Fahrenheit to Celsius by (F - 32) / 1.8.

ALARA Principles

As low as reasonably achievable: use collimation, lead PPE, dosimetry badges, and distance (inverse square law) to minimize occupational radiation exposure.

Triage Color Coding

Red for immediate life-threatening, yellow for urgent but stable, green for non-urgent, and black for moribund or deceased; reassess every 15-30 minutes.

Emergency Drug Concentrations

Epinephrine 1:1,000 (1 mg/mL), atropine 0.54 mg/mL, lidocaine 2% (20 mg/mL), calcium gluconate 10% (100 mg/mL), and dextrose 50% (500 mg/mL).

Capnography Target

End-tidal CO2 target is 35-45 mmHg during anesthesia; pulse oximetry SpO2 target is 95-100% and Doppler systolic target is 80-120 mmHg.

CE Credential Maintenance

Continuing education requirements vary by state but commonly require 10-20 hours per year, with a portion in the specialty area; retain certificates for audit.

SOAP Documentation

Subjective, objective, assessment, and plan format standardizes medical records; record all treatments, drugs, and client communications.

Crash Cart Contents

Endotracheal tubes, laryngoscope, ambu bag, IV catheters, emergency drugs, and defibrillator; check expiration dates monthly.