7 - A-E Assessment and Acute Presentations Flashcards
What tool is used to determine whether someone with a PE can be treated as an outpatient?
PESI
How should you approach someone with SOB in ED?
What questions should you ask when a patient presents to ED with shortness of breath?
- Onset
- Duration
- Severity
- Precipitating events
- Associated symptoms
- Postural changes
- Previous episodes
- PMHx
- SHx
What are some differentials you need to consider in ED when someone presents with SOB?
How can you differentiate between the different conditions based on their presenting symptoms?
What are the important exams to do on top of an A to E assessment when someone presents with SOB?
- Respiratory
- Cardio
- Abdominal
- General (see image)
What investigations should you do in ED if someone presents with SOB?
- Sats
- ABG
- CXR
- ECG
- D-dimer or CTPA if Well’s score suggests PE
How would the following presentations show on a CXR?
What is the acronym to remember the management of SOB caused by pulmonary oedema?
Pour SOD
- Pour away (stop) their IV fluids
- Sit up
- Oxygen
- Diuretics (40mg Furosemide STAT)
If initial management of pulmonary oedema is not working what can you do next?
PODMAN
- Intravenous opiates to act as vasodilators
- NIV like CPAP
- Inotropes if on ITU
What life threatening differentials do you need to consider when a patient presents with chest pain?
- ACS (STEMI/NSTEMI/Unstable angina)
- Aortic dissection
- PE
- Pneumothorax
Once you have ruled out life threatening differentials, what are some other causes of chest pain that may present to ED?
- Anxiety
- Shingles
- Costochondritis
How may aortic disecction present?
Chest pain PLUS 1
- Radiates to back or neck
- Any neurological symptoms
- Limb ischaemia
- Renal colic type pain
What test should you order if you suspect an aortic dissection?
CT angiogram of Aorta
What is the acronym for the ACS initial protocol?
MONAC
- Morphine
- Oxygen if sats <94%
- Nitrates
- Aspirin
- Clopidogrel
How should you approach a patient in ED with chest pain?
How will the following causes of chest pain present?
What are some risk factors you need to enquire about in the history of a patient with acute chest pain as it could mean they are more likely to have an ACS, aortic dissection or PE?
What investigations should you perform for a patient with acute chest pain?
- ECG
- CXR
- Serial troponins
- D-dimer/CTPA/VQ if indicated
- CT angiogram of aorta if indicated
What signs may be found on examination of a patient with acute chest pain and the following diagnosis (especially aortic dissection and MI)
Aortic dissection will have different blood pressures in both arms and may have neurological symptoms
MI often has diaphoresis. May be silent in women and diabetics, may present as indigestion.