1002. ABCDE tutorials

Question 1

What causes an airway obstruction?

Answer 1

Trauma
Foreign bodies
Fluids (blood,vomit, secretions)
Swelling (epiglottitis, quinsy)
Decreased consciousness (muscle tone lost)

Question 2

How do you assess someone’s airway?

What do you assess for?

Answer 2

Look, tracheal tug, chest expansion, subcostal recession

listen, noisy breathing-partial obstruction, speaking- patent

feel- head tilt, chin lift. jaw thrust

Question 3

What are the signs of a breathing problem in the ABCDE assessment?

Answer 3

High respiratory rate
Low sats <94%
Cyanosis
Use of accessory muscles (tripod position)
Hyper-reasonant percussion
Tracheal position

Question 4

What is the difference between type I and type II respiratory failure?

Answer 4

Type I- hypoxic and normal CO”

Type II- hypoxia and hypercapnea

Question 5

What are the signs of a C problem in the ABCDE assessment?

Answer 5

High HR>90
low blood pressure<90 systolic
Abnormal ECG
Mottled skin
Cool peripheries
Capillary refill time>3 seconds]
End organ dysfunction- low urine, confusion

Question 6

How do you treat a C problem in an ABCDE assessment?

Answer 6

IV access
Take blood if able
Fluid resuscitation
Bolus of 250mls-500mls of crystalloid solution 
Fluid resuscitate up to 2 litres
(careful in HF, pulmonary oedema)
Give blood in bleeding patients

Question 7

What is a crystalloid solution?

Answer 7

Plasmalyte, Hartman’s, 0.9% saline

Question 8

What are the signs of a D problem in the ABCDE assessment?

Answer 8

Altered consciousness
Confusion
High or low blood pressure
Pupils
Focal neurological weakness

Question 9

How do you treat a D?

Answer 9

DEFG
assess consciousness- AVPU (exams), GCS 
pupils
brief neuro exam
Reverse overdose
Treat blood glucose

Question 10

What are the eyes in a GCS?

Answer 10

4-open spontaneously
3-open to voice
2-open to pain
1-not open

Question 11

WHat are the verbal queues in a GCS?

Answer 11

5-orientated
4-confused
3-single words
2-noises/grunts
1- no response

Question 12

WHat are the motor queues in a GCS?

Answer 12

6-follows commands
5- localises to pain
4- withdraws from pain
3-abnormal flexion
2- extends into pain
1-no response to pain

Question 13

What are the signs of an E problem?

Answer 13

Hypothermia
Rashes
Trauma
Lines, surgical wounds, drains

Question 14

What are the different ways to deliver oxygen?

Answer 14

Non rebreathe mask
venturi mask
oxygen mask
nasal cannuale