Acute and Emergency Flashcards
in acute bronchitis when should you prescribe antibiotics
- in patients who:
- are systemically very unwell
- have pre-existing co-morbidities
- have a CRP of 20-100mg/L (offer delayed prescription) or a CRP >100mg/L (offer antibiotics immediately)
what antibiotics should you offer in acute bronchitis
- doxycycline first-line
- doxycycline cannot be used in children or pregnant women
- alternatives include amoxicillin
how do you differentiate acute bronchitis from pneumonia on history and examination
- History: Sputum, wheeze, breathlessness may be absent in acute bronchitis whereas at least one tends to be present in pneumonia.
- Examination: No other focal chest signs (dullness to percussion, crepitations, bronchial breathing) in acute bronchitis other than wheeze. Moreover, systemic features (malaise, myalgia, and fever) may be absent in acute bronchitis, whereas they tend to be present in pneumonia.
how do you treat acute pulmonary oedema
- SODON
- sit patient uo
- oxygen
- diuretics
- opiates
- nitrates
what are the criteria for diagnosing AKI
- Rise in creatinine of 26µmol/L or more in 48 hours OR
- >= 50% rise in creatinine over 7 days OR
- Fall in urine output to less than 0.5ml/kg/hour for more than 6 hours in adults (8 hours in children) OR
- >= 25% fall in eGFR in children / young adults in 7 days.
what are the different stages of AKI
management of AKI
- careful fluid balance
- review prescriptions
- diuretics only if clinically overloaded
- treat complications
- hyperkalaemia, pulmonary oedema, acidosis or uraemia
- if secondary to urinary obstruction then → prompt urology referral
- referral to nephrology if AKI stage 3 or if cause not clear
- referral for renal replacement therapy if AKI stage 3 or if complications aren’t responding to treatment
6 causes of hyperkalaemia
- acute kidney injury
- drugs*: potassium sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin 2 receptor blockers, spironolactone, ciclosporin, heparin**
- metabolic acidosis
- Addison’s disease
- rhabdomyolysis
- massive blood transfusion
ecg findings of hyperkalaemia
tall-tented T waves, small P waves, widened QRS leading to a sinusoidal pattern and asystole
5 causes of intrinsic AKI
- glomerulonephritis
- acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
- acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), respectively
- rhabdomyolysis
- tumour lysis syndrome
5 common drugs that cause hyperkalaemia
potassium sparing diuretics,
ACE inhibitors,
angiotensin 2 receptor blockers,
ciclosporin,
heparin
how do you classify hyperkalaemia
- mild: 5.5 - 5.9 mmol/L
- moderate: 6.0 - 6.4 mmol/L
- severe: ≥ 6.5 mmol/L
management of hyperkalaemia
- Stabilisation of the cardiac membrane
- IV calcium gluconate
- does NOT lower serum potassium levels
- IV calcium gluconate
- Short-term shift in potassium from extracellular (ECF) to intracellular fluid (ICF)
compartment- combined insulin/dextrose infusion
- nebulised salbutamol
- Removal of potassium from the body
- calcium resonium (orally or enema)
- enemas are more effective than oral as potassium is secreted by the rectum
- loop diuretics
- dialysis
- haemofiltration/haemodialysis should be considered for patients with AKI with persistent hyperkalaemia
what are the adrenaline doses in anaphylaxis depending on age
REPEAT EVERY 5 MINUTES IF NECESSARY
Where do you inject IM adrenaline in anaphylaxis
anterolateral aspect of the middle third of the thigh.
what is refractory anaphylaxis and what should you do
- defined as respiratory and/or cardiovascular problems persist despite 2 doses of IM adrenaline
- IV fluids should be given for shock
- expert help should be sought for consideration of an IV adrenaline infusion
management of a patient who had anaphylaxis but is now stabilized
- non-sedating oral antihistamines can be given following stabilisation in patients with persisting skin symptoms (urticaria and/or angioedema)
- sometimes it can be difficult to establish whether a patient had a true episode of anaphylaxis. Serum tryptase levels are sometimes taken in such patients as they remain elevated for up to 12 hours following an acute episode of anaphylaxis
- all patients with a new diagnosis of anaphylaxis should be referred to a specialist allergy clinic
- an adrenaline auto-injector should be givens an interim measure before the specialist allergy assessment (unless the reaction was drug-induced)
- patients should be prescribed 2 adrenaline auto-injectors
- training should be provided on how to use it
why do you need to risk stratify discharge of anaphylaxis patients
20% can have a biphasic reaction
how do you risk stratify the discharge of patients who have had anaphylaxis
- fast-track discharge (after 2 hours of symptom resolution):
- good response to a single dose of adrenaline
- complete resolution of symptoms
- has been given an adrenaline auto-injector and trained how to use it
- minimum 6 hours after symptom resolution
- 2 doses of IM adrenaline needed, or
- previous biphasic reaction
- minimum 12 hours after symptom resolution
- severe reaction requiring > 2 doses of IM adrenaline
- patient has severe asthma
- possibility of an ongoing reaction (e.g. slow-release medication)
- patient presents late at night
- patient in areas where access to emergency access care may be difficult
what are the 4Hs and 4Ts of reversible causes of cardiac arrest
- Hs
- Hypoxia
- Hypovolaemia
- Hypo-/hyperkalaemia/ metabolic
- Hypo/hyperthermia
- Ts
- Thrombosis – coronary or pulmonary
- Tension pneumothorax
- Tamponade – cardiac
- Toxins
when do you give adrenaline in ALS
- adrenaline 1 mg IV/IO as soon as possible for non-shockable rhythms
- for shockable rhythms, adrenaline 1 mg IV/IO is given once chest compressions have restarted after the third shock
- repeat adrenaline 1mg IV/IO every 3-5 minutes whilst ALS continues
when should you use thrombolytic drugs in ALS
- should be considered if a pulmonary embolus is suspected
- if given, CPR should be continued for an extended period of 60-90 minutes
when do you give amiodarone in ALS
- amiodarone 300 IV/IO mg should be given to patients who are shockable after 3 shocks have been administered.
- a further dose of amiodarone 150 mg IV/IO should be given to patients who are shockable after 5 shocks have been administered
- don’t give to unshockable patients
what is the most common cause of an infective exacerbation of COPD
- Haemophilus influenzae