Acute care Flashcards
What does a negative base excess indicate?
Excess acid
Respiratory acidosis
- pH is high/low
- CO2 is high/low
pH low
CO2 high
Metabolic acidosis
- pH is high/low
- bicarbonate is high/low
pH is low
bicarbonate is low
Anion gap = (Na +K) - (Cl + HCO3)
true or false
True
In COPD patients, raised PaCO2 with a NORMAL HCO3 suggests acute/chronic problem
Acute
What is wells score used for?
Determining likelihood of PE
If wells score is low, what does this mean and what do you do?
PE unlikely
D-dimers
Hyperventilation causes which ABG pattern
Respiratory alkalosis
panic attack causes which ABG pattern
Respiratory alkalosis
Severe asthma typically causes which ABG pattern
Respiratory acidosis
DKA typically causes which ABG pattern
Metabolic acidosis
Severe vomiting causes which ABG pattern
Metabolic alkalosis
Drug overdose (eg aspirin) typically causes which ABG pattern
Respiratory alkalosis
Paient with renal colic. What is first line treatment?
Diclofenac
What is the landmark for a cricothyroidotomy
Cricothyroid membrane
unwell patient in ED. ECG shows narrow QRS complex which is regular. How do you manage?
Vagal manouevres
Then administer adenosine 6mg -> 12mg
unwell patient in ED. ECG shows narrow QRS complex which is irregular. What is this likely to be and how do you manage in ED?
Likely AF
Rate control: B-blocker / diltiazem
unwell patient in ED. ECG shows broad QRS complex which is regular. What is this likely to be and how do you manage in ED?
VT
Amiodarone (300mg IV over 20-60 mins)
Patient in ED wit bradycardia. What is first line management?
Atropine 500mcg IV
Paeds CPR outline
5 rescue breaths
CPR 15:2
Name 2 unshockable rhythms
PEA
Asystole
Name 2 shockable rhythms
VF
Pulseless VT
When should you avoid head tilt chin lift manouvre
in trauma cases where there is concern about cervical spine injury
Gudel is example of
- oropharyngeal airway
- nasopharyngeal airway
Oropharyngeal airway
Size of nasopharyngeal airway equates to
diameter of patient’s little finger
When might nasopharyngeal airway be contraindicated?
If ?base of skull fracture
Periorbial bruising
Battles sign
CSF rhinorrhoea
What do these signs suggest
Base of skull fracture
Name 3 advanced airway techniques
Endotracheal Intubation Laryngeal mask airway Surgical airway (needle cricothyrotomy)
What should be used in ?c spine trauma?
- head tilt chin lift
- jaw thrust
Jaw thrust
Airway management: when may suction be used?
If there is complete or partial visible LIQUID obstruction in the airway
Airway management: when may mcGills forceps be used?
If there is complete or partial visible SOLID obstruction in the airway
Name 2 types of airway adjuncts?
Nasopharyngeal airway
Oropharyngeal airway
How do you size a Gudel airway?
From the incisors to the angle of the mandible
What is the final option for airway management where you have been unable to clear obstruction, open airway and ventilate patient?
Surgical airway
- cricothyrotomy
Flail chest
Segment of rib cage breaks due to trauma
Where are chest drains inserted?
4th / 5th ICS mid axillary line in the safety triangle
Why might you use a Kendrick leg splint?
Femoral fracture
Minimum score of GCS
3
GCS 3 components
Eye opening (4 max) Verbal response (5 max) Best motor response (6 points)
Eye opening - GCS
4 - eye opens spontaneously
3 - eye opens to voice
2 - eye opens in response to painful stimulus
1 - eye does not open
Verbal response - GCS
5 - talking normally 4 - confused conversation 3 - inappropriate words 2 - incomprehensible sounds 1 - no speech
Best motor response - GCS
6 - normal movements, obeys commands 5 - moves towards painful stimulus 4 - normal flexion 3 - abnormal flexion 2 - extension 1 - no movement
Fasting before surgery
- food
- liquid
Fast for 6 hours before surgery (food)
Can drink water up to 2 hours before surgery
Anticoagulants need to be stopped before surgery. True or false?
True
How long before surgery do DOACs need to be stopped for?
24 hours before surgery
How long does COCP need to be stopped before surgery?
4 weeks
Surgery tends to increase/decrease blood sugar levels?
Increase
- due to the stress body is under
What are the 4 pillars of consent
Understand
Retain
Weigh up
Communicate decision
After an operation, what do patients complain of most?
Post op nausea and vomiting
When is clopidogrel stopped before operation ?
7 days
What are the 2 standard colours of adult cannulas?
Blue
Pink
3 pillars of general anaesthesia
Pain free
Not aware (patient is asleep)
Paralysis (not in all GA)
What % of air is oxygen?
21%
Where in the body is energy generated (which structure)?
Mitochondria
How much oxygen does a standard person USE per minute?
- 250ml/min
- 500ml/min
- 750ml/min
- 1000ml/min
250ml/min
What is the functional residual capacity?
Expiratory reserve volume + residual volume
In anaesthesia, why is pre-oxygenation used (ie hold oxygen mask to patient’s face for 3 mins)
This replaces the functional residual capacity with 100% oxygen (instead of 21% oxygen) so it essentially buys time by increasing oxygen in the lungs
Who should not receive a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) ?
Patient’s with reflux
- it doesn’t protect their airway
Patients with reflux should have which airway?
Endotracheal tube
- it has a cuff to protect the airway
For patient about to have surgery, which CARDIAC medications should be stopped on day of surgery? (and why?)
ACE inhibitor
Angiotensin receptor blocker
Thiazide diuretic
being anaesthetised causes hypotension but these drugs will cause prolonged hypotension
How long should aspirin be stopped before surgery?
7-10 days
How long should DOACs be stopped before surgery?
24-48 hours
Warfarin and surgery
Stop warfarin 5 days before surgery
Day 3 before surgery start LMWH injections for 2 days
After op restart LMWH injections + warfarin
When INR normal, stop LMWH injections
Patient 7 hr post op complains of pain despite having an epidural pre-operatively. What should be done first?
Check sensory block height
Patient develops broad complex tachycardia HR 160 BP 80mmHg systolic What should be done? - adenosine - amiodarone - synhronised DCCV - CPR
Got a pulse so CPR not required.
However, he is unstable so 3 x synchronised DCCV required first line
Patient develops broad complex tachycardia HR 120 BP 100mmHg systolic What should be done? - adenosine - amiodarone - synhronised DCCV - CPR
Amiodarone IV infusion
What ECG features do you need to diagnose STEMI
over 2mm in 2 contiguous chest leads OR
over 1mm in 2 contiguous limb leads OR
New LBBB
Identify a STEMI what is the management plan
Morphine Oxygen (only if needed) Nitrates Aspirin Ticagrelor
IV heparin (if going onto PCI)
PCI
In MONA + C what is used instead of clopidogrel now
Ticagrelor
Why does infection cause increased resp rate
Pain
Fever
If you need to fluid resuscitate a patient but there is a risk that the patient could get fluid overloaded, what do you do>
250ml (instead of 500ml) IV fluids (crystalloid)
frequent reassessment is crucial
All COPD patients have 88-92% oxygen range target. True or false ?
True
- even if not normally a CO2 retainer
How can you tell if someone is a CHRONIC CO2 retainer or an acute CO2 retainer?
If chronic, there will be metabolic compensation on the ABG
What is the treatment for acute exacerbation of COPD
Oxygen Nebulisers: salbutamol 5mg Nebulisers: Ipatropium bromide Amoxicillin Prednisolone 40-50mg
Non invasive ventilation is the same as BiPAP. True or false/
True
Explain how NIV works
Patient inhales themselves and BiPAP mask supplements with bursts of pressure and pushes air into the lungs
T wave inversion on an ECG suggests
Ischaemia
- NSTEMI
What is the management of NSTEMI
Morphine Oxygen (if required) Nitrates Aspirin Ticagrelor
+ FONDAPARINEUX
Key points to ask in history of head injury
MECHANISM of injury loss of consciousness vomiting (one off vomit is ok) visual disturbance associated injuries seizures amnesia
Suspicious of base of skull fracture, what airway adjunct should you avoid?
Nasopharyngeal airway
Reduced GCS
Unequal pupils
What does this potentially suggest?
Raised intracranial pressure
Battles sign suggests
Base of skull fracture
Where should you test for pain (if needed) in GCS?
Trapezius squeeze
GCS 8 or less equates to what on AVPU
Response to Pain (P)