Emergency medicine Flashcards
What is a pneumothorax?
a collection of air between the visceral and parietal pleura
What is a primary pneumothorax?
a pneumothorax that occurs without any underlying disease causing it
What is a secondary pneumothorax?
a pneumothorax that occurs due to an underlying disease eg. asthma or COPD
What is a tension pneumothorax?
a life-threatening event where air is trapped in the pneumothorax under positive pressure so the intrathoracic pressure rises, reducing venous return to the heart and potentially cardiac arrest
What are symptoms of a pneumothorax?
sudden onset chest pain
acute SOB
a feeling of not being able to take a deep breath
What are the signs of a pneumothorax?
tachypnoea tachycardia hypoxia reduced breath sounds on affected side hyperresonance on affected side tracheal deviation away from affected side in tension
What are the target oxygen sats for a
a) normal patient?
b) COPD patient?
a) 94-98
b) 88-92 only if CO2 retaining as shown in ABG
Why do COPD patients have lower target o2 sats?
they are CO2 retainers so if given too much oxygen you can reduce their hypoxic drive
What is seen on CXR for pneumothorax?
Air in the pleural space
Decreased lung markings around the outer edge of the lung field
Lung collapse
How is a simple pneumothorax managed?
high flow O2
sit up if conscious
aspirate with 16-18G cannula if large primary, symptomatic or small secondary
How is tension pneumothorax managed?
peri-arrest call on 2222
needle decompression into 2nd intercostal space, mid-clavicular line
chest drain insertion
What IV access is needed for an acutely unwell patient?
2 large bore cannulas (grey or orange)
Which fluid is used for fluid resuscitation?
NaCl 0.9% or Hartmann’s solution
Name some signs of airway compromise
see-saw breathing
use of accessory muscles
diminished breath sounds
added sounds
What clinical findings might suggest respiratory compromise?
tachypnoea
reduced air entry
What does a hypoxic patient with a falling respiratory rate indicate?
impending respiratory failure
How is an acute asthma attack managed?
O SHIT ME
oxygen salbutamol 2.5-5mg nebs hydrocortisone 100mg IV ipratropium 500mcg NEB theophylline
magnesium sulphate 2g IV over 20 mins
escalate care
What does diaphoretic mean?
extreme sweating
Where is a chest drain inserted?
4th or 5th intercostal space in triangle of safety
just anterior to the mid axillary line and posterior to the lateral border of the pectoral muscle.
In trauma, what is a shocked patient assumed to be suffering?
blood loss/ haemorrhagic shock
Which areas can have significant blood loss?
on the floor and 4 more
external haemorrhage chest abdo pelvis long bones
What is the mainstay treatment of a shocked patient?
IV crystalloid fluid
0.9% saline or Hartmann’s
250-500ml boluses of warmed NaCL
What are the 3 components of the GCS?
eyes /4
verbal /5
move /6
How is the patients eye response for GCS scored?
4 spontaneous
3 voice
2 pain
1 no response
How is the patients verbal response for GCS scored?
5 orientated 4 confused 3 inappropriate words 2 noises 1 no response
How is the patients movement response for GCS scored?
6 obeys command 5 localises to pain 4 normal flexion 3 abnormal flexion 2 extension 1 no response
How is hyperkalaemia treated?
calcium chloride then an infusion of insulin dextrose
How would you investigate a ? abdominal aortic aneurysm?
US if trained
definitive is CT
How would you investigate ischaemic gut or DKA?
ABG
How would you investigate shocked patient?
FBC U+E LFT lactate ABG
Which medication is good for crampy abdominal pain?
buscopan
What medication is good for renal colic?
diclofenac
Differentials of chest pain
CV eg. acute MI, angina, aortic dissection, PE, pericarditis
resp: pneumothorax, pleurisy, pneumonia
costochondritis
GI: oesophageal rupture, cholecystitis, GORD, biliary colic
What are atypical presentations of MI? Who presents like this?
burping
reflux
more common in diabetics
What is the typical presentation of acute MI?
central chest pain sudden onset heavy, achy, dull radiates to left shoulder assoc N+V