Emergencies Flashcards
What essentially happens in DKA
Not enough insulin and high blood glucose so body runs out of insulin
What are the signs and symptoms of DKA?
- acetone smell breath
- dehydration, polydipsia, polyuria
- abdo pain, vomiting
- Kussmaul resp
- shock, coma, death
- drowsiness
What are the diagnostic criteria for DKA?
- BM >11.1mmol/L
- Blood ketones >3mmol/L or urine ketones on dipstick
- Venous ph <7.3
- Bicarbonate <15mmol/L
What are the signs of clinical dehydration?
unwell irritable and lethargic decreased UO Sunken eyes dry mucous membranes reduced skin turgor tachycardia and tachypnoea
What is the first step in treatment of DKA?
ABC
fluid resuscitation w 0.9% saline
Why do you need to be careful with fluids in resuscitation for DKA?
Too much puts at risk of cerebral oedema
What is the second step in treatment of DKA?
Rapidly confirm diagnosis, then formal Ix
what are the next steps of treatment of DKA once fluid resuscitation has occurred?
- Assess dehydration, work out volume of fluid to be replaced and give at constant rate for 1st 48hr
- give IV insulin 1hr after IV fluids
- reduce insulin when glucose <14mmol/l
- stop insulin when ketone <1.00mmol/l change to subcut
How is fluid replacement worked out in DKA?
MAINTENANCE + DEHYDRATION DEFICIT - FLUID GIVEN IN RESUSCITATION
What shouldn’t be given as part of treatment of DKA and why?
bicarbonates as they increase risk of cerebral oedema
Explain the different fluids that are given in DKA and when
- 9% saline + 20mmol KCl/500ml when BM 14mmol/l
0. 45% saline + 20mmol KCl/500ml + 5%glucose after 12 hr if plasma Na stable
When does cerebral oedema usually occur following treatment of DKA?
4-12 hrs
What are the most common precipitating factors of DKA?
Infection
Missed insulin doses
MI
What is the mortality of meningitis?
5-10%
what are the causes of meningitis n neonates -3m?
GBS
E.coli
Listeria monocytogenes
What are the causes of meningitis in 1m-6y?
neisseria meningitidis
strep. pneumoniae
h. influenzae
what are the causes of meningitis in >6yr
N. meningitidis
s. pneumoniae
What are the general signs/sx of meningitis?
fever headache lethargy/drowsiness poor feeding/vomiting irritability
What are neurological signs of meningitis?
hypotonia
LoC
seizures
shock
What are characteristic signs of meningitis?
non-blanching rash
photophobia
neck stiffness
Brudzinski’s/Kernig’s sign
What sign of meningitis is seen in infants?
bulging fontanelle
Give the ix for meningitis
FBC, U&Es, LFTs Blood, throat, urine, stool cultures LP!!! Blood glucose/gas for acidosis Coag screen CRP
What imaging can be used in meningitis ix?
CT/MRI
EEG
Explain the pathophysiology behind meningitis
Infection of meninges usually follows bacteraemia
Host response causes damage - release of inflammatory mediators and leucocytes w endothelial damage
Subsequent cerebral oedema, ICP + cerebral blood flow