Clinical Emergencies Flashcards
Asthma A to E findings.
A. Tongue swelling, cough, cyanosis, unable to complete sentences
B. Wheeze, reduced chest expansion, tachypnoea, increased respiratory effort, silent chest
C. Tachycardia
D. Drowsiness (carbon dioxide retention)
E. Rashes
Asthma investigations.
- Bedside: PEFR, ECG, ABG, SaO2
- Bloods: FBC, U&E
- Imaging: CXR
Asthma Management.
- Warn ICU is severe or life-threatening asthma attack
- Bronchodilataion: nebulised slabutamol 5mg with high flow oxygen
- Steroids: IV hydrocortisone 100 mg or PO prednisolone 40-50 mg
- Oxygen: 15 L/min oxygen through a non-rebreathe mask if saturations < 92%
-
If life-threatening:
- Add nebulised ipratropium bromide 500 mcrg
- Administer IV magnesium sulphate 1.2-2 g over 20 mins
-
If responding to treatment:
- 4-hrly salbutamol nebulisers
- Prednisolone 40-50 mg OD for 5-7 days
- Monitor PEFR and SaO2
-
If NOT responding to treatment:
- Refer to ICU for intensified therapy (e.g. intubation, IV aminophylline)
Acute exacerbation of COPD A to E findings.
A. Cough (productive?)
B. Wheeze, crepitations (infection?), bronchail breathing, increased respiratory effort
C. Tachycardia, raised JVP (right heart strain)
D.
E. Fever
Acute exacerbation of COPD investigations.
- Bedside: ECG, ABG
- Bloods: FBC, U&E, CRP, sputum culture
- Imaging: CXR
Acute exacerbation of COPD management.
- Bronchodilator: nebulised salbutamol 5 mg/4hr + nebulised ipratropium bromide 500 mcrg/6hr
- Oxygen: if SaO2 < 88% start 24-28% oxygen via venturi mask aiming for 88-92%
- Steroids: IV hydrocortisone 200 mg (or oral prednisolone)
- Antibiotics: following trust guidelines (e.g. amoxicillin, doxycycline)
-
If no response to treatment → Refer to ICU
- Consider IV aminophylline
- Consider NIV
- Consider intubation and ventilation
- Consider respiratory stimulant (e.g. doxapram)
Acute coronary syndrome A to E findings.
A.
B. Shortness of breath
C. Tachycardia, arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock
D.
E. Sweating, anxiety
Acute coronary syndrome investigations.
- Bedside: ECG, capillary glucose
- Bloods: troponin, FBC, U&E, blood glucose, cholesterol
- Imaging: CXR
Acute coronary syndrome management.
-
Immediate
- IV morphine 5-10 mg (repeat after 5 mins if necessary)
- IV metoclopramide 10 mg
- 15 L/min oxygen via non-rebreathe mask if hypoxic
- PO aspirin 300mg AND PO clopidogrel 300 mg OR PO ticagrelor 180 mg
-
STEMI
- Percutaneous coronary intervention if able to reach PCI centre within 120 mins of first medical contact
- Fibrinolysis (alteplase) within 30 mins of admission if PCI unavailable
-
NSTEMI
- SC Fondaparinux 2.5 mg OD
- Assess risk and need for angiography (e.g. GRACE score)
-
Drugs and take away on discharge
- Dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 75 mg OD for life AND clopidogrel 75 mg OD for 1 year OR ticagrelor 90 mg for 1 year)
- ACE inhibitors (e.g. ramipril 1.25-2.5 mg OD - increasing up to 10 mg)
- Statin (e.g. atorvastatin 80 mg OD)
- Beta-blocker (e.g. bisoprolol 2.5 mg OD - increasing up to 10 mg)
Acute heart failure A to E findings.
A. Cough, pink frothy sputum
B. Cardiac wheeze, tachypnoea, bibasal crepitations
C. Tachycardia, raised JVP, S3 gallop rhythm, displaced apex
D. Anxious, sweaty
E. Pale, sitting up, ankle swelling
Acute heart failure investigations.
- Bedside: ECG, ABG
- Bloods: troponin, U&E, BNP
- Imaging: CXR, echocardiogram
Acute heart failure management.
- Sit upright
- 15 L/min oxygen via non-rebreather mask
- Gain IV access
- Diamorphine 1.25-5mg IV (caution in liver failure and COPD)
- Furosemide 40-80 mg IV STAT
- GTN spray 2 puffs sublingual
-
If NO response to treatment
- Repeat furosemide dose
- Consider CPAP
- Consider nitrate infusion
- Consider ITU admission
-
If stable following response to treatment
- Monitor daily weight
- Repeat CXR
- Switch to oral diuretics (furosemide or bumetanide)
-
To take away on discharge
- ACE inhibitor
- Beta-blocker
- Consider spironolactone
Pulmonary embolism A to E findings.
A.
B. SOB, haemoptysis, normal breath sounds, cyanosis
C. Hypotension, tachycardia, raised JVP (right heart strain)
D.
E. Swollen, tender calf
Pulmonary embolism investigations.
- Bedside: ECG, ABG
- Bloods: FBC, U&E, clotting, D-dimer
- Imaging: CXR, CTPA
Pulmonary embolism management.
- 15 L/min oxygen via non-rebreathe mask if hypoxic
- Morphine 5-10 mg IV (with metoclopramide 10 mg IV)
- Treatment with DOAC (apixaban or rivaroxaban)
- If critically ill (haemodynamically unstable) with massive PE → immediate thrombolysis
-
Ongoing management
- Compression stockings
- Continue DOAC