ABCDE Assessment Lecture Flashcards
How do you assess airway?
Snapshot assessment:“Hi, my name is –, I’m a —. Could you please tell me your name?”
Observations: Listen for any unusual airway noises e.g. stridor, snoring, gurgling.
Examination:
Investigation:
Management: Basic airway maenouvres(head tilt, chin lift); airway adjuncts, suction; expert help (anaesthetist)
How do you assess breathing?
Snapshot assessment: Normal or not normal breathing(e.g. agonal gasps)?
Observations:Resp rate, O2 sat.
Examination: Chest exam (inspect, trachea, expansion, percussion, auscultation)
Investigation: ABG, CXR
Management: Sit up, oxygen, drugs, expert help (ICU)
Name 3 different ways in which you can admininster oxygen and the settings on these.
- Nasal cannulae - 2-4L/min
- Venturi mask - variable
- Non-rebreath mast - 15L/min
How do you assess circulation?
Snapshot: perfusing vital organ (BRAIN)
Observation: HR, BP, urine output
Examination: cardiac exam (cap refill, pulse, auscultate, oedema), fluid assessment
Investigations: Troponin, ECG, echo
Management: IV access, fluids, expert help (drugs and ICU)
How much fluid should you give in an emergency?
250mL IV fluid bolus - frail, elderly, HF, renal failure
500mL IV fluid bolus - young, healthy heart, low BP
How do you assess disability?
Snapshot: conscious?
Observations: AVPU, GCS
Examination: pupils (PERL - equal and responsive to light), moving all limbs
Investigations: BM (capillary glucose), imaging (CT head)
Management:
How do you examine exposure?
Snapshot - everything else
Observations: temperature, other (e.g. drain outputs)
Examination: take covers off, abdominal examination, others (e.g. post surgery wounds)
Investigations: bloods, imaging
Management: collate information, impression&management, call for help, reassess
How do you do the AVPU assessment?
Alert, resposive to Voice, Pain, Unresponsive
If they are alert you do not need to do the rest
What should you do if you find something wrong during the assessment?
Correct it immediately and then keep going
