Dental Emergencies & Records (Review: Outcome 7) Flashcards
Medical Emergencies
A condition or circumstance that requires immediate action for a person who has been injured or has suddenly become ill
- You must be prepared to respond immediately
- Your knowledge and skills could mean the difference between life and death
How to prevent a medical emergency from occuring?
Key to prevent a medical emergency is:
- have an open communication about patient’s health
- ensure medical history is updated at every appointment
Most emergencies that occur in the dental office are caused by?
Combined stress of a person’s daily life and the apprehension of going to the dentist
How to prepare for a medical emergency?
- Successful management of medical emergencies in the dental office requires preparedness, prompt recognition, and effective treatment
- Ongoing observation of the patient is an important part of emergency preparedness
- Signs and symptoms
- Every member of the dental team must be current in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), /Heimlich maneuver/chest thrusts, ability to assess and record vital signs accurately
Symptom
What the patient is telling you about how he/she feels or what he/she is experiencing
- ex. “I feel dizzy,” “I’m having trouble breathing,” or “my arm hurts”
Signs
What you observe in a patient
- ex. change in skin colour or increase in respiratory rate
Roles in a medical emergency
When an emergency occurs in dental office, it is most effectively managed when each member of dental team executes their responsibilities efficiently. Each member of team assigned specific responsibilities
- Comforting the patient
- Monitoring the patient’s vital signs
- Retrieving the emergency kit
- Bringing the oxygen tank
- Calling emergency services
- Responding to the needs of other patients in the office
Emergency Kit
- A standardized emergency kit is organized and equipped with emergency supplies
- Routine maintenance for the emergency equipment and supplies should be assigned to a staff member who will oversee making sure that the equipment is in working condition and the drugs have not expired
- These checks can be done weekly or daily, depending on office policies
Basic equipment
- Emergency drug kit
- Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Pocket mask
- Blood pressure device
- Portable oxygen tank (color-coded green) with attachments for face mask and bag mask
- Reserve oxygen tank
Common drugs in an emergency kit
1) Oxygen
- Use: respiratory distress
- Route: inhaled
2) Ammonia inhalant
- Brand/common name: Spirits of ammonia
- Use: fainting
- Route: inhaled
3) Epinephrine (Adult = 0.3mg, Pediatric = 0.15mg)
- Brand/Common name: Autoinjector, EpiPen
- Use: Allergic reaction
- Route: IM, IV, subcutaneous
4) Diphenhydramine
- Brand/common name: Benadryl
- Use: Allergic reaction
- Route: IV, deep IM
5) Nitroglycerin (tablet/spray)
- Brand/common name: Nitrostat
- Use: Angina
- Route: Sublingually
6) Albuterol
- Brand/common name: Ventolin
- Use: Bronchospasm with asthma
- Route: Inhaled
7) Aspirin
- Brand/common name: Bayer
- Use: Myocardial infarction
- Route: Orally
8) Oral glucose (gel/orange juice concentrate)
- Brand/common name: glucose
- Use: hypoglycemia
- Route: orally
Ammonia inhalant
- Brand/common name: Spirits of ammonia
- Use: fainting
- Route: inhaled
Epinephrine
(Adult = 0.3mg, Pediatric = 0.15mg)
- Brand/Common name: Autoinjector, EpiPen
- Use: Allergic reaction
- Route: IM, IV, subcutaneous
Diphenhydramine
- Brand/common name: Benadryl
- Use: Allergic reaction
- Route: IV, deep IM
*IV = intravenous
*IM = intramuscular
Nitroglycerin
(tablet/spray)
- Brand/common name: Nitrostat
- Use: Angina
- Route: Sublingually
Albuterol
- Brand/common name: Ventolin
- Use: Bronchospasm with asthma
- Route: Inhaled
Aspirin
- Brand/common name: Bayer
- Use: Myocardial infarction
- Route: Orally
Oral glucose
(gel/orange juice concentrate)
- Brand/common name: glucose
- Use: hypoglycemia
- Route: orally
Oxygen
- The most frequently used “drug” in medical emergency
- The ideal agent for resuscitation of a patient who is unconscious, but still breathing
- If patient is not breathing, air must be administered through rescue breathing or similar emergency measures
- A portable unit with tanks of oxygen may be stored where it can be moved quickly into a treatment room if needed
*ONLY an RDH and DDS can administer oxygen
- RDA can only assist the operator with preparing the equipment
Who can administer oxygen in a medical emergency?
Only RDH and DDS can administer oxygen
- RDA can only assist the operator with preparing the equipment
Oxygen System
- Oxygen tank
- Gauge regulator
- Tubing
- Delivery systems: cannula, face mask
Oxygen Cylinder characteristics
- Always green in color
- Made of steel or aluminum
- Available in different sizes
Regulator
Controls the flow of oxygen out of a tank
Tubing
- Used for connecting the oxygen tank at the gauge regulator to the face mask
- Allows delivery of oxygen to the patient
Oxygen Delivery Systems
2 ways:
- Nasal cannula
- Face mask