26.3 Medical emergencies in dentistry Flashcards
What are the 3 levels of training for medical emrgencies in dentistry?
- BLS: annually for all dentists
- ILS: for dentists providing sedation
- ALS: highest level of training, for dentists working in a hospital setting, 2 day course and exams
What medical emergencies might occur in dental practice?
- Vasovagal syncope (most common), fainting
- Angina
- Hypoglycaemia
- Epileptic seizures
- Choking
- Asthma attack
- Anaphylaxis
- Cardiac arrest
- Adrenal insufficiency
What are the normal obs for adults and children?
What system do hospitals use to detect deteriorating patients?
National early warning score (NEWS)
How do you assess airway obstruction?
- Look for signs of obstruction e.g. use of accessory muscles, see-saw respirations, central cyanosis
- Complete airway obstruction = no noise
- Partial obstruction:
Inspiratory stridor: obstruction at laryngeal level
Expiratory wheeze: obstruction of lower airways
Gurgling: liquid or semi-solid in upper airway
Snoring: partial occlusion of pharynx
How can you see if anything is blocking the throat?
Look down the airway, use suction to improve visibility
Describe the airway opening manoeuvres.
- Head tilt/chin lift or jaw thrust (Not if C-spine fracture suspected)
- Remove visible foreign body (suction)
- Simple airway adjuncts e.g. oropharyngeal airway (Guedel airway- measured from mouth to angle of mandible) nasopharyngeal airway
How should oxygen be delivered to patients?
If oxygen saturation is 92% or below give 15 litres of oxygen per minute via non-rebreather mask.
What are signs of respiratory distress?
- Sweating
- Central cyanosis (blue tinge to membranes)
- Use of accessory muscles of respiration
- Chest expansion unequal, shallow breaths
- Breath sounds: gurgling, stridor, wheeze
- Oxygen saturations
What is the difference between a rebreather mask and a bag valve mask?
- Rebreather: conscious/breathing patients
- Bag valve mask: patient is not breathing at all, used in cardiac arrest, should be able to see chest rising
What is the difference between a rebreather mask and a bag valve mask?
- Rebreather: conscious/breathing patients
- Bag valve mask: patient is not breathing at all, used in cardiac arrest, should be able to see chest rising
How do you assess circulation?
- Colour: blue/pink/pale/mottled
- Is limb temperature cool or warm
- Capillary refill: pressure for 5 seconds on chest, colour should return in 2 seconds
- Central capillary refill: press collarbone until it blanches, colour should return in 1-2 seconds
- Peripheral capillary refill: press fingernail, colour return in 3 seconds
- Radial or carotid pulse
- Blood pressure
How do we assess disability/consciousness?
- Glasgow coma scale (medicine not dent)
- CAVPU: confusion, alert, voice, pain, unresponsive
After reaching D in ABCD what should you do?
- Review and treat ABCs
- Check pt drug record to see if there is a reason they have become unwell
- Check pupils: size, equal, reactive to light
- Assess blood glucose
- If unconscious, place in recovery position
- Temperature
- Rashes, bruises, bleeding
What should you do if a patient goes intro adrenal crisis?
- Not enough corticosteroids
- Symptoms: extreme weakness, significant drop in BP, drowsiness, mental confusion
- Call 999 and state addisonian crisis
- If you are competent and pt carries emergency kit, deliver IM hydrocortisone 100mg
- Surgery is a major physiological stressor, patients with adrenal insufficiency normally double their steroid dose before treatment