ACC Flashcards
Anesthetics:
how are drugs checked before administering them? (5)
what do you do before giving it IV? (1)
- Check the drug
- Check the ampoule
- Check the dilution
- Check the syringe
- Check the route of administration
It is good practice to always flush each intravenous drug with 0.9 % NaCI; this is to prevent incompatible drugs precipitating.
Controlled drugs:
where to store controlled drugs? (1)
where to put excess drug in ampoule? (1)
name the 3 controlled drugs commonly used in surgery? (3)
- locked container
- squirt into sharps bin
- benzo
- cocaine
- opioids e.g. fentanyl, morphine, afentanil etc
- ket actually isn’t one! but treated like one in most places
- anesthetist and ODP/anesthetic nurse
- twice daily checks of # of ampoules made by 2 trained members of staff a day!!
What are the three main blood bourne viruses?
- Hep B
- Hep C
- HIV
ICU:
What is critical care?
Critical care is an umbrella term which encompasses both level 3 (ICU) and level 2 (HDU) care
Level 2= Patients requiring more detailed observation or intervention, including support for a single failing organ system or postoperative care and those ‘stepping down’ from higher levels of care. (HDU). Nurse ratio 2:1
Level 3=requiring advanced respiratory support alone or basic respiratory support together with support of at least two organ systems. This level includes all complex patients requiring support for multi-organ failure and is provided on critical care units commonly known as intensive care units (ICUs) or intensive treatment/therapy units (ITUs)1:1 nursing care
Conditions which may require critical care unit admission
- AKI
- brain injury (type 1, type 2, and due to systemic disease)
- post cardiopulmonary arrest
- post trauma (send to majr trauma centre)
- respiratory failure: ARDS, pneumonia, pulmonar oedema
- shock
- postoperative (planned or unplanned!)
ICU:
Purpose of central venous catheters? (5)
- Infusion of drugs (esp irritants e.g. noradrenaline, amiodarone and total parenteral nutrition)
- rapid volume infusions
- invasive haemodynamic monitoring
- central venous access for regular blood sampling, pacing wire insertions and emergency access when peripheral cannulation is not achieved
- to facilitate renal support therapy, plasmapheresis and exchange transfusions
ICU:
types of neurological monitoring? (2)
examples of each?
1- non-invasive
GCS, clinical observations, neurological examinations, electroencephalography (measures electrical activity in brain using electrodes on the scalp)
2- invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitor and intraventricular drain (EVD) for drainage of CSF for either diagnostic or therapeutic reasons
ICU:
Scoring system to predict mortality in ICU? (1)
what does it encompass? (3)
APACHE II
- acute physiology score
- age
- chronic health problems
A&E:
complications of MI? (9)
- cardiac arrest: often as MI–> VF–> arrest
- cardiogenic shock
- chronic heart failure: give loop diuretics, ACEi and BBs
- tachyarrythmias: VF (most common form of death post-MI), VT
- bradyarrhythmias: AV block more common in inferior MIs
- pericarditis: 48 hrs post transmural MI (pericardial rub, pericardial effusion and pain worse lying flat)
- Dressler’s syndrome: 2-6 weeks post-MI, autoimmune against new myocardium; fever, pleuritic pain, pericardial effusion and raised ER
- L ventricular aneurysm: persistent ST elevation and L ventricular failure –> stroke
- L ventriular free wall rupture (!!)
- ventricular septal defect: acute heart failure and pan-systolic murmur–> surgery ASAP!
- acute mitral regurgitation; ischaemia or rupture of papillary muscle, early-to-mid systolic murmo
A&E:
acute MI ECG changes with timings?
1- hyperacute T waves
2- ST elevatation
3- T waves inverted in first 24 hours
4- pathological Q waves hours-days then persist forever
remember: posterior MI causes ST depression NOT elevation
Pre-operative assessments:
what changes what investigations you get? (2)
what investigations are considered? (6)
what should you also consider? (1)
- ASA level of patinet
- Grade of the surgery (minor (level 1)/ intermediate (level 2)/ severe (level 3/4))
- Consider pre admission clinic to address medical issues.
- Blood tests including FBC, U+E, LFTs, Clotting, Group and Save
- Urine analysis
- Pregnancy test
- Sickle cell test
- ECG/ Chest x-ray
-VTE risk and plan
Pre-operative assessments: what investigations do you get for: minor surgery? intermediate? major?
what to do extra if: female? (1) diabetic? (1) when to do: urine test? (1) CXR? (1) what to check in FHx? (1)
- pregnancy test (if relevant and consent obtained)
- HbA1c if not tested within last 3 months, if they have look at referral letter
- if the presence of UTI would influence the decision to operate
- CXR never routine
- if heart murmor AND any cardiac symptom (SOB, syncope, pre-syncope, chest pain) OR signs/Sx heart failure
- test for sickle cell if FHx
Which routine tests do you do for minor, intermediate and major surgery for:
ASA1?
ASA2?
ASA3/4?
MINOR ASA 1 : none ASA 2: - U&E if risk of AKI - ECG if CVD, renal or diabetes ASA 3/4: - FBC if CVS/renal disease and not recently investigated - hemostasis if chronic live disease - U&E - ECG - possibly ABG
INTERMEDIATE: ASA 1: none ASA 2: - U&E if risk of AKI - ECG if CVD/ diabetes/ renal disease ASA 3/4: - basically all again
MAJOR: - FBC for all ASA 1: - U&E if risk of AKI - ECG >65 ASA 2: - FBC - U&E - ECG ASA 3/4: everything (FBC, U&Es, ECG, haemostasis if liver disease, consider lung function/ABG) https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng45/chapter/recommendations
What is periorbital ecchymosis? (1)
what is it a sign of? (1)
raccoon/ panda eyes
often accompanied by CSF rhinorrhoea
= basal skull fracture
Trauma:
signs of basal skull fracture? (4)
what airway adjunct should be avoided? (1)
- periorbital ecchymosis
- CSF rhinorrhoea
- haemotympanum
- mastoid process bruising (battle’s sign)
nasopharyngeal airway is (relatively) contraindicated as risk of inserting it into the cranial cavity
(also avoid in coagulopathy)
Anaesthetics:
which patients shouldn’t get LMA? (2)
- unfasted - it has poor control against reflux
- morbid obesity
patients don’t have to be completely asleep for LMAs
Post-operative: How to assess who needs VTE prophylaxis? (2) mechanical prophylaxis? (2) pharmacological prophylaxis? (3) drugs to stop? (1) other? (2)
- assess risks
- compare risk of VTE to risk of bleeding
- anti-embolism (compression) stockings
- intermittent pneumatic compression device
one of:
- fondaparinux sodium (SC) or rivaroxaban (DOAC)
- LMWH e.g. eoxaparin
- Unfractionated heparin if CKD
- stop OCP 4 weeks pre surgery
- mobilise ASAP
- ensure hydration
VTE prophylaxis:
which surgeries automatically require anticoagulation? (3)
when is surgery not a risk factor for VTE? (1)
when is BMI a risk factor? (1)
- elective hip
- elective knee
- fragility fractures of pelvis, hip or proximal femour
- if <90 mins or <60 mins if surgery of lower limb
- > 35
Anesthetics:
in a hemodynamically unstable patient e.g. post motorbike crash, what induction agent is best? (1)
how does this drug work? (1)
Look at BP and HR!
Ketamine is best if hypotension
also an analgesic
remember that kid screaming post-accident on his bike on the Ambulance show, also causes antreograde amnesia so they won’t remember it!
- NMDA receptor antagonist
Anesthetics:
side effects of non-depolarising neuromuscular blockers? (1)
depolarising? (3)
treatment for hyperthermia? (1)
Non-depolarising:
- hypotension
Depolarising: (succinylcholine/ suxamethonium)
- malignant HYPERthermia
- hyperkalaemia
- increases introcular pressure –> contraindicated in acute/ narrow eye injuries
IV dantrolene
(an autosomal dominant disorder that leads to a susceptibility of patients to malignant hyperthermia with depolarising)
A&E:
Treatment of benzodiazepine overdose? (1)
Flumazenil
A&E:
Treatment for paracetamol overdose? (1)
N-acetylcystine
What do haematinic blood tests check? (1)
nutrients required for the formation of blood cells: iron, vit B12, folate
What special preparation is required for: thyroid surgery? (1) parathyroid surgery? (1) sentinel node biopsy? (1) involving thoracic duct? (1) pheochromocytoma? (1) carcinoid tumours? (1) colorectal? (1) thyrotoxicosis? (1)
- vocal cord check
- methylene blue to indentify gland
- radioactive marker/ patent blue dye
- cream
- alpha and beta blockade
- cover with octreotide
- bowel preparation
- medial therapy