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Calculating Patient Weights
Kilograms (kg) and Pounds (lb)
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Formula:
lbs / 2.2 = kilograms
kg x 2.2 = pounds
Examples:
A man weighing 70 kilograms weighs 154 pounds
70 kg x 2.2 = 154 lbs
A woman weighing 110 pounds weighs 50 kilograms
110 lbs 2.2 = 50 kg
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Patient Vital Signs
Normal Body Temp
adult oral - 98.6
axillary - 97.6
rectal -99.6
70 + oral - 96.8
1 year old oral - 99.7
3 year old oral - 99.0
5 year old oral - 98.6
Pulse
Descriptors: regular, irregular, strong or weak
Adult
60 to 100 beats per minute
Children - age 1 to 8 years
80 to 100
Infants - age 1 to 12 months
100 to 120
Neonates - age 1 to 28 days
120 to 160
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Blood pressure
Adult
Children - age 1 to 8 years
Infants - age 1 to 12 months
Neonates - age 1 to 28 days
Systolic
90 to 140 mmHg
80 to 110 mmHg
70 to 95 mmHg
>60 mmHg
Diastolic
60 to 90 mmHg
Respirations
Descriptors: normal, shallow, labored, noisy, Kussmaul
Adult (normal)
12 to 20 breaths per minute
Children - age 1 to 8 years
15 to 30
Infants - age 1 to 12 months
25 to 50
Neonates - age 1 to 28 days
40 to 60
Vital signs by age
Adult vital signs
Pulse
Blood pressure
Respirations
60 to 100 beats per minute
90 to 140 mmHg (systolic)
60 to 90 mmHg (diastolic)
12 to 20 breaths per minute
Child vital signs (age 1 to 8 years)
Pulse
80 to 100 beats per minute
Blood pressure
80 to 110 mmHg systolic
Respirations
15 to 30 breaths per minute
Infant vital signs
Pulse
Blood pressure
Respirations
100 to 140 beats per minute
70 to 95 mmHg systolic
25 to 50 breaths per minute
Neonatal vital signs (full-term, <28 days)
Pulse
120 to 160 beats per minute
Blood pressure
>60 mmHg systolic
Respirations
40 to 60 breaths per minute
Adventitious (Abnormal) Lung sounds
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Crackles or rales
Wheezing
Stridor
Rhonchi
crackling or rattling sounds
high-pitched whistling expirations
harsh, high-pitched inspirations
coarse, gravelly sounds
Pulse oximetry
Range
Normal
Mild hypoxia
Moderate hypoxia
Severe hypoxia
Value
95 to 100%
91 to 94%
86 to 90%
< 85%
Treatment
None
Give oxygen
Give 100% oxygen
Give 100% oxygen w/ positive pressure
Common Measurements
Temperature
Formula:
1 degree Celsius (ºC) = 5/9 x (ºF - 32)
Formula:
(9/5 x ºC) + 32 = 1 degree Fahrenheit (ºF)
Example: 98.6ºF (normal adult body temperature) = 37ºC = normothermia
< 95ºF = hypothermia (too low)
37.5 °C –38.3 °C (100 °F –101 °F) =hyperthermia (too high)
Note: Hyperthermia differs from fever in the mechanism that causes the elevated body
temperatures: a fever is caused by a change in the body's temperature set-point.
For hyperthermia, the most common causes are: heat stroke and adverse reactions to
drugs.
Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a rare complication of some types of General
Anesthesia.
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Temperature Classification
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Core Temperature Ranges
Normal
36.5–37.5 °C (97.7–99.5 °F)
Hypothermia
<35.0 °C (95.0 °F)
Fever
>37.5–38.3 °C (99.5–100.9 °F)
Hyperthermia
>37.5–38.3 °C (99.5–100.9 °F)
Hyperpyrexia
(Life Threatening)
>40.0–41.5 °C (104–106.7 °F)
Ways to Measure Body Temperatures:
Regular Method (Central Temperature):
basic mercury thermometer - this has been used for a long time to
monitor if you have a fever. It is held in the mouth to measure oral
temperature, and sometimes the skin or under the axilla (armpit) or groin
for a period of time.
For Core Body Temperature Measures: use a basic mercury
thermometer or thermistor (ex. esophageal probe) or digital
thermometer in the inner ear only). Other core body temp areas:
ear thermometer - these are becoming popular as a method for
measuring deep body (core) temperature. They work by measuring
tympanic membrane temperature
rectal temperature - the use of a rectal probe in the past has been a
common method to measure core body temperature and is one of the
most accurate methods.
Also: uterus, bladder and vagina and urine as it leaves the urethra.
esophageal temperature - this method is not popular in patients that are
awake because of the difficulty of inserting the thermistor, irritation to the
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nasal passages and general subject discomfort during monitoring. It is
used during surgery with general anesthesia.
gastrointestinal radio pill - a small pill is swallowed which gives off a
radio signal which is picked up by a monitor outside the body. Each pill is
for a single use of course, and is quite expensive.
Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PA Catheter) is the most accurate
measure of core body temperature!
COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS in
ANESTHESIA
Abbreviations may stand for singular or plural usage.
cm = centimeter
cu. = cubic
ft. = foot
mL = ml = milliliters
10 newtons of pressure = 1 kg of force
Cricoid Pressure is: 10 newtons of
pressure while patient is going to sleep
and 30 newtons (3 kg) during
intubation (while the ET tube in being
placed)
gr. = gram
gm. = gram
in. = inch
l. = liter
lb. = pound
oz. = ounce
std. = standard
1 cc = cubic centimeter
US = United States
kg. = kilogram
1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 3 teaspoons (tsp)
A drop is abbreviated gtt, with gtts used for the plural.
1 gtt = 0.05ml; 1ml = 20 gtts (20 drops)
m = meter
In hospitals, intravenous tubing is used to deliver medication in drops of various
sizes ranging from 10 drops/mL to 60 drops/mL
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Common Usage
1 lb. = 16 oz.
1 kg = 1000 gm
1 kg = 2.2 lb.
1 cc = 1 ml
1 in. = 2.54 cm
1 m. = 39.37 in. = 100cm.
Common Usage
1 ft. = 12 in.
Note:
There is room to add other measurements to these charts as you come
across them!
BMI (Body Mass Index)
A frequent use of the BMI is to assess how much an individual's body weight departs
from what is normal or desirable for a person of his or her height. The weight excess or
deficiency may, in part, be accounted for by body fat (adipose tissue) although other
factors such as muscularity also affect BMI significantly
The World Health Organization (WHO) regards a BMI of less than 18.5 as underweight
and may indicate malnutrition, an eating disorder, or other health problems, while a BMI
greater than 25 is considered overweight and above 30 is considered obese. Morbidly
obese is a BMI greater than 40.
Formula: weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in
meters (kg/m2)
Example: BMI = 70 kg / (1.75 m2) = 70 / 3.06 = 22.9