CPG Course Flashcards
What kind of drugs end in lol?
Beta blockers.
eg. atenalol
What kind of drug end in pril?
Ace inhibitors
eg. Ramparil
What drug names end in sartan?
Angiotensin 2 receptor antagonists
What drug names end in zole?
Reflux meds
How many small squares constitute significant ST elevation?
- Small square above the isoelectric line in the limb leads
- Small squares above the isoelectric line in the chest leads
Before you call a code STEMI, what requirements do you need to meet for ECG (in addition to the other requirements?
- St elevation of at least 1 mm (1 small square) in two or more contiguous limb leads
AND/OR
- ST elevation of at least 2 mm (two small squares) in 2 or more contiguous chest leads
- Normal QRS complex duration
OR
A RBBB is present, therefore accounting for the extended QRS duration.
When you see a QRS that is abnormally wide, but there is a p wave associated with each QRS….what should you look for straight away?
A right or left bundle branch block.
Check V1.
Then check lead V6.
What are the patient criteria necessary for a code STEMI?
- Symptoms consistent with ACS
- Ongoing, unrelieved chest pain
- GCS = 15
- Onset < 12 hours prior
- PCI facility within 60 minute drive.
What are the considerations before giving GTN?
- Appropriate rate and rhythm.
eg. AF is a preload + rate dependent rhythm. So it may be contraindicated in some circumstances. For example, loss of atrial kick means that starlings law, or in other words myocyte stretch is driving cardiac output. If you drop preload, you can create ischemia.
eg. Inferior infarct is also a preload dependent rythmn, when it involves significantly the right ventricle.
eg. Giving GTN to a patient with HR above 110 is dicey if that can’t downregulate such as in AF…. They may be rate dependent, and reducing preload would enhance ischemia. - Appropriate blood pressure - specifically a MAP above 65
- No use of PDE-5 inhibitors. Erectile dysfunction agents.
What is V4r lead and when would you use it?
You can take the V4 line, and place it on the other side of the chest. You can do so, when a patient has ST elevation in the inferior leads (2, 3, avf) because you are looking at the right ventricle with v4r in order to ascertain if there is RV involvement (ST elevation in v4r)
What would an extended PR interval potentially indicate?
Some involvement of the AV node, whos function it is to slow conduction from the SA node and the atrial depolarisation, so that it is completed before ventricle depolarisation and contraction.
What is the only contraindication for ondansatron?
Long QT syndrome
What class of drug is ondansatron?
Highly selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist
Name 4 common blood thinner medications?
- Apixaban
- Rivoroxaban
- Saralto
- Warfarin
What two key obs would you expect in PE?
- Low SP02 in the setting of
2. hypotension.
If you are uncertain about chest pain what should you assume?
Assume it’s chest pain and treat accordingly.
What can hide a STEMI? And what is a STEMI equivalent?
- Bundle branch blocks can hide a STEMI.
- ST elevation or depression in the setting of a BBB can be ignored.
- A LBBB is a STEMI equivalent
What two lines are best for seeing AF activity/fibrillation?
- V1
2. AvR
What ECG signs would you see in pericarditis?
- Global ST elevation.
2. PR Depression
Stridor is a sign of?
What does it sound like?
- Upper respiratory issue. It can be heard without a stethascope and is a high pitched wheeze
Inspiratory stridor occurs when your child breathes in and it indicates a collapse of tissue above the vocal cords.
Expiratory stridor occurs when your child breathes out and it indicates a problem further down the windpipe.
Biphasic stridor occurs when your child breathes in and out, and it indicates a narrowing of the subglottis, the cartilage right below the vocal cords.
How does a wheeze sound compared to a stridor?
What does wheeze indicate?
It is much lower pitch. And comes from deeper in the lungs. From the bases of the lungs, rather than the axis.
Wheezing most often comes from the small breathing tubes (bronchial tubes) deep in the lungs
What indicates a poor pleth wave?
- uneven shape
- Not passing through both ‘lines’
- Sats will be unreliable in these cases.
Sp02 has a delay of approximately?
2-4 minutes behind ACTUAL realtime breathing changes.
What are some very troubling respiratory signs in children?
- Nasal Flare
- Mouth breathing (children are typically nose breathers)
- Intercostal retractions
- Chest moves when breathing (children are normally belly breathers).
When considering the Asthma CPG, is a patient has any severe or life threatening symptoms…they should go into which category?
The higher category
What is a crucial thing to ask on EVERY asthma job?
- Ask for a patient management plan
- If the plan has not been tried. Follow this as it is tried and tested for the patient. If tried and failed proceed to SAAS treatment protocols.
What is an anticholinergic?
An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system. These agents inhibit parasympathetic nerve impulses by selectively blocking the binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to its receptor in nerve cells.
What kind of drug is ipratropium?
- an anticholinergic - It is an M3 receptor cell agonist (a type of Ach (acetylcholine) receptor that provides parasympathetic innervation to the lungs causing bronchoconstriction.
What is the downside of a Neb?
It can reduce Fi02 by up to 30%.
What is the minimum MAP required for perfusion?
65
If a patient is potentially going to decline into hypovolemic shock…what should be the first treatment priority.
Basic cares:
- Haemorrhage control - excluding/ignoring cavities such as uterus, rectum ect.
- Splinting - In particular CT6 splint.
- Posturing - sliding patients from bed or chair to floor is acceptable.
- Oxygen. When a patient is in a shocked state, they require 02.
- Pain relief. First line should be PENTHROX. Do not forget.
What is the line of ascending pain relief options?
- Splinting
- Posture.
- Temperature
- Penthrox
- Paracetamol
- IN fentanyl
- IV fentanyl.
What is the time for peak blood concentration of Fentanyl?
5-8 minutes. You can only give more fentanyl after 5 minutes has expired.
When providing additional breaths in asthma how many breaths should you give IPPV?
< 6 per minute is good for patients that are not breathing. For those that are breathing, you can do a breath after every exhalation. The END of each exhalation will provide the rate.
What is the minimum oxygen rate for a non-rebreather?
12 litres.
What oxygen settings work with a neb?
8 litres ONLY.
What is the max oxygen rate for nasal specs?
4 litres max.
What is the minimum oxygen rate for a hudson mask?
6 litres.
What is a key part of a secondary survey that you cannot miss?
You need to auscultate the chest and look for breathing sounds, check for JVD, and tracheal deviation.
Always consider a tension pneumo in every traumatised patient.
What oxygen sats are we aiming for in COPD patients?
between 88% and 92%
When providing nebs to COPD patients, why should we note the time - ASIDE from just the PCR requirements?
You need to limit high flow oxygen exposure.
After every SIX minutes you need to reassess!!!
Do we give adrenaline in COPD?
No - Never.
What expiratory sound is an early sign of APO?
Wheeze.
What is the key age group effected by croup?
From 6 months to 6 years old.
What are some key differentiators between croup and epglottitis?
What is another less obvious croup mimic?
- There is no cough with epiglottitis.
- epiglottitis will involve drooling + leaning forward potentially.
- Airway obstruction is a sneaky mimic of croup.
What is the technique to align a paediatric airway in an arrest?
It can be good to place a towel under the shoulders to open the airway. Their airways open at more neutral positions…when compared to adults that have their neck pulled back and C shaped airway is more open.
What is the triple airway manoeuvre?
- Head tilt
- Chin lift
- Jaw thrust.
What is a crucial step to assessing paediatric breathing, different from adults?
You MUST expose the chest + belly. This tells you a lot.
What are some symptoms of croup?
- Nasal flaring
- Chest breathing
- Intercostal recession
- Recent Hx of flu-like symptoms
- Hoarse voice
- Barking cough
Why does croup effecting breathing so significantly ?
Any small change in diameter has an exponential increase in pressure. This is the same mechanism as vasodilation/constriction and why it is so effective.
So a small decrease in diameter, causes an exponential increase in the pressure needed to generate effective airflow for breathing.
What is the paediatric assessment triangle>
- Behaviour/appearance
- Work of breathing
- Circulation of the skin.
TICLS is a handy acronym for assessing paediatrics. What does it stand for?
T - Tone I - Interactiveness C - Consolability L - Look/Gaze S - Speech / Cry
What is a tool to use for categorising the severity of croup?
The westley croup score - look this up and use.
The two worse signs are
altered conciousness
Cyanosis
Can a pede travel being held by mum?
Never - the PEDE must always be in the PEDEMATE.
What are the three key symptoms of anaphylaxis?
- Angiooedema
- Hypotension
- Bronchocontriction
What is the key difference between asthma and anaphylaxis.
Asthma is a localised inflammatory response within the lungs and bronchioles. That has systemic consequences if intrathoracic pressure creates obstruction, or hypoaemia occurs.
Anaphylaxis is a systemic inflammatory response, that causes widespread changes systemically to capillaries, and the lungs.
As a general rule all patients in a shocked state require?
High flow oxygen. 15 litres with a non-rebreather when using portable oxygen.
What are key skills an ICP can value add for anaphylaxis?
- Adrenaline infusion (works amazingly)
- Hydrocortisone injection (slow acting)
- Cric (only in extremis).
What are two key signs of perfusion issues?
Dizziness.
Altered GCS
What is a good guide to providing fluid as it pertains to age, and the suggested aliquots?
- Younger patients can tolerate more fluid - 200 ml fluid challenge is a good approach initially. Reassess
- Older patients can tolerate less fluid - 100 ml fluid challenge is a good approach initially. Reassess
What is the preferred site for IM administration in SAAS?
The thigh
What are some signs of angiooedema?
- Tingles or itch in the throat
2. Change in voice
What is a key historical detail in anaphylaxis?
Time of onset. If the changes have been occuring for hours, dont stress. You have time.
in which condition, and circumstances, would you withhold ondansatron?
for anaphylaxis if the patient ate the allergen. Therefore vomiting it up would be beneficial.
What is the acronym for qSOFA assessments of SEPSIS?
H - Hypotension
A - Altered conciousness
T - Tachnypnoea
How would you differentiate between SEPSIS and MENINGECOCCAL ?
Time of onset.
Meninggecoccal has a quick/24 hour decline from slightly sick to violently ill.
Sepsis will have a clinical course accross multiple days.
When presented with a crack femur. What should you prioritise?
Retracting the limb. Give penthrane and go because its a huge space for bleeding and may lead to hypotension.
Why do patients with infections present with higher BGS results?
Cortisol is the stress response hormone, and released in infective processes.
A primary action of this hormone, is that it breaks down glucagon, and hence rising blood sugar.
Why is insulin alone, taken by a patient not enough to correct HYPERglycemia?
Because insulin and potassium are co-transported into the cell. So there may be an associated inbalance of potassium that needs to be corrected.
What is the approximate tidal volumes of males and females?
Male = 500 ml
Female = 400 ml.
Overall when it comes to V/Q matching we typically have more of what?
More perfusion - as a general statement.
Different parts of the lung have different V/Q ratios. Explain this
In the upper lungs, ventilation is greater than perfusion.
In the lower lungs perfusion is greater than ventilation. This means that the concentration of c02 is greater in this region of the lungs, as less 02 - which is a result of less ventilation.
What are the two types of v/q mismatches?
A shunt -> A poorly ventilated alvioli is well perfused. Hence blood flow is being directed to poorly ventilated lung units and gas exchange is impaired. An example of this is Asthma.
Dead Space -> A well ventilated alviolar unit is poorly perfused. An example of this is pulmonary embolism in which the thrombus is impairing blood flow.
The dead space within a bag valve mask extends from which two points?
From the mask to the rubber valve. Beyond the valve it is not deadspace.
define dead space?
In physiology, dead space is the volume of air which is inhaled that does not take part in the gas exchange.
This is because:
- It remains in the conducting airways without interacting with alvioli.
- It reaches alveoli that are not perfused or poorly perfused
What is the normal amount of dead space for an adult?
150 ml
What two adjuncts increase dead space in a bag valve mask?
- The IPPV inline nebuliser for respiratory arrest scenarios.
- the filter
Why do we remove the filter for paeds in arrest? What is the weight cutoff?
< 40 kg = remove the filter
The filter adds dead space, comparatively the dead space is a larger proportion of volume -> compared to an adult. Hence, this dead space has a more detrimental effect and is more difficult to overcome.
This increases work of breathing unnecessarily.
When comparing Etc02 (expiratory measured) with pac02 (arterial c02) which figure is typically larger or smaller?
ETc02 is typically a LESSER value than pac02. It is not an accurate reflection of pac02.
ETc02 is typically described as an elephant under a blanket, explain what each part of the waveform represents within the respiration cycle.
- The isoelectric line represents the inspiratory baseline (c02 is low because intake of high concentration oxygen)
- The upstroke is the beginning of expiration (increasing c02 as expiration ramps up). it doesnt instantly shoot up because dead space has to be overcome.
- The expiratory plataeu is the flat line at the top of the waveform where c02 expiration peaks.
- The expiratory downstroke occurs as c02 expiration is used up…a straight drop back down to baseline as inspiration begins again at the isolelectric line.
Why is ETc02 a good measure for compressions in cardiac arrest?
In cardiac arrest ventilations should be a constant, as should be metabolic factors. Hence the primary variable should be perfusion. Therefore, increased c02 waveforms should indicate better compressions/perfusion …which leads to better clearance of waste products during positive pressure ventilation.
What is a key feature of gaining ROSC, as it pertains to perfusion?
If when you gain ROSC, the beat is weak….you can and SHOULD continue compressions for a full 2 minute interval.
What should an ETc02 waveform look like when ROSC is approaching?
It should be getting progressively bigger. A bigger As elephant trend….may mean ROSC is imminent.
As perfusion increases, better c02 clearance occurs during respiration and hence etc02 increases.
If you were providing CPR, and the waveform for ETc02 is increasing, how might this influence drug administration during cardiac arrest?
It would be appropriate to withhold adrenaline in this situation, until next charge and check to look for pulse and ROSC.
What two purposes does capnography serve in post-ROSC patients?
- We can maintain ventilation rates per minute
2. It can show a declining waveform (reduced perfusion) and give a lead indicator for imminent arrest.