Emergencies Flashcards
What NEWS score is considered significant?
> ,5 in total
or
,3 in 1 domain
How do you assess the airway?
Protect c-spine if injury possible
Look inside mouth + remove objects/ dentures
Assess for signs of obstruction
○ Use wide-bore suction under direct vision if secretions are present
If vocalising, can assume airway patent
Listen for stridor, snoring or gurgling
Establish a patent airway using:
○ Manoeuvres (e.g. chin lift, jaw thrust)
○ Adjuncts (e.g. oropharyngeal airway (Guedel))
If airway still impaired –> CALL ARREST TEAM (2222)
How do you assess breathing?
Look for chest expansion (equal? Fogging of mask?)
Listen for air entry (equal?)
Feel for expansion + percussion (equal?)
Start 15L O2 via a non-rebreather
Use a bag valve mask if there is poor or absent respiratory effort
Monitor SaO2 + RR
Check for tracheal deviation+ cyanosis
If NO respiratory effort –> CALL ARREST TEAM (2222)
○ Intubate + ventilate
If breathing is compromised, give 15L O2 through a non-rebreather mask
How do you assess circulation?
Look for pallor, cyanosis + distended neck veins (JVP)
Feel for central pulse (carotid/ femoral); rate + rhythm
Monitor defibrillator ECG + BP
Gain venous access + send bloods if time allows
12-lead ECG
Treat shock
If NO cardiac output –> CALL ARREST TEAM (2222)
How do you assess disability?
Consciousness (GCS/AVPU)
Pupils
Blood glucose
What are some common causes of peri-arrest?
Arrhythmia MI Hypovolaemia Sepsis Hypoglycaemia Hypoxia Pulmonary oedema PE Metabolic (hypo or hyperkalaemia) Tension pneumothorax
What are the components of qSOFA?
RR > 22
GCS < 15
SBP < 100
What is the difference between severe sepsis and septic shock?
Severe sepsis: sepsis with evidence of organ hypoperfusion (e.g. hypoxaemia, oligaemia, confusion)
Septic shock: severe sepsis with hypotension despite adequate fluid resuscitation
What are the sepsis 6?
Give O2 (15L through non-rebreather) Give IV fluids (bolus = 20 mL/kg) Take blood cultures Take lactate Monitor urine output Give BS abx
ALL WITHIN 1 HOUR
When should sepsis patients be escalated further?
SBP fails to reach > 90 mm Hg
Lactate remains > 4 mmol/L
How should haemorrhagic shock be managed?
2L Crystalloid
If this fails to resuscitate –> X-match
Give FFP + packed red cells (1:1) aiming for platelets > 100 + fibrinogen > 1
Which medications are used in the management of anaphylaxis?
Adrenaline 0.5 mg IM (0.5 mL of 1:1000) Repeat every 5 mins as necessary Chlorphenamine 10 mg IV Hydrocortisone 200 mg IV IV fluid bolus if shocked
What should be done after the a patient with anaphylaxis has been stabilised?
Admit to ward
Monitor ECG
Continue chlorphenamine 4mg per 6h PO if itching
Suggest MedicAlert bracelet
Prescribe autoejector
Consider skin-prick testing or specific IgE
Outline the management of aortic dissection.
Fast bleep cardiothoracic surgery
Transfer to ITU
Use hypotensives (e.g. labetalol) to maintain SBP 100-110
Document + debrief
Outline the management of a ruptured AAA.
Fast bleep vascular surgery + anaesthetics Take patient straight to theatre Gain IV access Administer O- if necessary Keep SBP <100 mmHg
Outline the initial management of a STEMI.
Morphine 5-10mg IV (repeat after 5 mins if necessary)
Metoclopramide 10mg IV
Oxygen 15L via non-rebreather
Nitrates
Aspiring 300mg PO (with clopidogrel or ticagrelor)
What doses of second antiplatelet agents are used with aspirin in the prevention of atherothrombotic events in ACS?
Clopidogrel 300 mg followed by 75 mg
Ticagrelor 180 mg STAT followed by 90 mg BD
Which medications should patients who have had an MI take home?
Dual antiplatelet therapy (continue for 12 months) GTN spray Beta-blocker ACE inhibitor Statin
Outline the management of acute heart failure.
Diamorphine 1.25-5 mg IV (caution in liver failure or COPD)
Furosemide 40-80 mg IV
GTN spray 2 puffs sublingual (consider isosorbide mononitrate infusion 2-10 mg/h)
What should be considered if a patient in acute heart failure deteriorates?
Further dose of 40-80 mg furosemide
Consider CPAP
Increase nitrate infusion
Refer to ITU
How should a patient with acute heart failure be managed once they have been stabilised?
Monitor daily weight + observations
Repeat CXR
Switch to oral furosemide or bumetanide
ACE inhibitor if LVEF < 40%
Consider b-blocker + spironolactone
Consider biventricular pacing or transplantation
Consider digoxin + warfarin
Outline the management of broad complex tachycardia in a haemodynamically UNSTABLE patient.
- DC cardioversion
- Hypokalaemia + hypomagnesaemia
- Amiodarone 300mg IV over 10-20mins through a central line
- Procainamide + sotalol in refractory cases
Outline the management of broad complex tachycardia in haemodynamically STABLE patients.
Correct electrolyte abnormalities
Amiodarone 300mg IV over 10-20 mins
If it fails –> DC cardioversion
NOTE: after correction of VT, patients should be given maintenance antiarrhythmic therapy (e.g. sotalol)
Outline the management of torsades des pointes.
Stop predisposing drugs (e.g. TCAs)
Correct hypokalaemia
Give magnesium sulphate 2g over 10 mins
Outline the management of narrow complex tachycardia.
Vagal manoeuvres
Adenosine 6 mg IV bolus (followed by 0.9% saline flush)
If unsuccessful –> after 2 mins give 12mg bolus
If unsuccessful –> after 2 mins give 12mg bolus
Alternative: verapamil 2.5-5 mg over 2 mins
How should AF in an unstable patient be treated?
Emergency cardioversion
If unavailable –> IV amiodarone
Control ventricular rate: verapamil 40-120 mg/ 8h PO or bisoprolol 2.5-5mg/day PO
Start anticoagulation with LMWH
NOTE: cardioversion is only recommended if it can be done within 48h of the onset of Sx
Which medications should patients with AF be given to take away?
Use CHADS-Vasc to calculate need for anticoagulation (1 or more requires warfarin) Rate control (b-blocker or CCB) Rhythm control (flecainide if no structural heart disease, otherwise amiodarone)
Outline the investigations that you would request for a suspected acute asthma attack.
Bedside: PEFR, ECG, ABG, SaO2
Bloods: FBC, U+E
Imaging: CXR?
Outline the management of severe acute asthma.
Nebulised salbutamol 5mg with oxygen
IV hydrocortisone 100mg (or PO pred 40-50mg)
If it worsens
- add ipratropium bromide nebuliser 0.5mg
- stat dose of magnesium sulphate 1.2-2g IV over 20 mins
If a patient with a severe asthma is showing signs of improvement, how should they be cared for?
Nebulised salbutamol every 4h
Prednisolone 40-50 mg OD for 5-7 days
Monitor PEFR + O2 saturations
How should a patient with life-threatening acute asthma be escalated if initial treatment fails to cause an improvement?
Refer to ICU
May need ventilatory support (e.g. intubation)
May need intensified Tx (e.g. IV aminophylline, IV salbutamol)
Outline the management of an infective exacerbation of COPD.
BRONCHODILATOR: nebulised salbutamol 5 mg/4h + nebulised ipratropium 0.5 mg/6h
OXYGEN: 24-28% via venturi aiming for 88-92%
STEROIDS: IV hydrocortisone 200mg (or PO prednisolone)
ABX: trust guidelines (e.g. amoxicillin or doxycycline)
How should the treatment of a patient with an infective exacerbation of COPD be escalated if they fail to respond to initial treatment?
Consider IV aminophylline
Consider NIV
Consider intubation + ventilation
Consider respiratory stimulant (e.g. doxapram)
Which investigations may be useful in patients with acute pancreatitis?
Bedside: glucose
Bloods: amylase, lipase, FBC, U+E (calcium), LFTs, ABG, glucose
Imaging: USS, erect CXR, AXR (r/o other causes of acute abdomen), ERCP
Outline the management of acute pancreatitis.
Assess severity using Modified Glasgow Criteria
NBM
IV fluids to achieve normal vital signs (3rd spacing)
Insert catheter to monitor urine output
Analgesia (IM pethidine 75-100 mg/4h or morphine)
If worsening –> ITU (may need ERCP)
Outline the management of a primary pneumothorax.
No SOB + <2cm rim of air on CXR: consider discharge + repeat CXR in a few weeks
SOB + >2cm rim of air on CXR: aspiration
- if unsuccessful –> repeat aspiration
- if unsuccessful –> insert chest drain