Emergency medicine and management of trauma Flashcards
Clinical features of thoracic aorta rupture?
Contained haematoma: persistent hypotension
Detected mainly by history, CXR changes
CXR changes of thoracic aorta rupture?
Widened mediastinum
Trachea/Oesophagus to right
Depression of left main stem bronchus
Widened paratracheal stripe/paraspinal interfaces
Space between aorta and pulmonary artery obliterated
Rib fracture/left haemothorax
Diagnosis of thoracic aorta rupture?
Angiography, usually CT aortogram.
treatment of thoracic aorta rupture?
Repair or replacement. Ideally they should undergo endovascular repair.
Main causes of chest pain in pregnancy?
Aortic dissection
mitral stenosis
Pulmonary embolism
Management of aortic dissection in pregnancy?
Gestational timeframe Management
< 28/40 Aortic repair with the fetus kept in utero
28-32/40 Dependent on fetal condition
> 32/40 Primary Cesarean section followed by aortic repair at the same operation
When is surgical exploration of haemothorax warranted?
if >1500ml blood drained immediately
Signs of cardiac tamponade?
Becks triad:
elevated venous pressure, reduced arterial pressure, reduced heart sounds
Pulsus paradoxus
May occur with as little as 100ml blood
Indications for fluid resuscitation in burns?
> 15% total body area burns in adults (>10% children)
The main aim of resuscitation is to prevent the burn deepening
Most fluid is lost 24 hours after injury
What is the parkland formula?
2 ml Hartmanns x kg x % TBSA
half given in first 8 hours
other half given over next 16
How is the parkland formula altered for electrical burns?
4 ml Hartmanns x kg x % TBSA until urine clears
[1-1.5 ml/kg/hr until urine clears]
How is the parkland formula altered for patients under 14 years?
3 ml Hartmanns x kg x % TBSA
[UO 1ml/kg/hr]
How is the parkland formula altered for patients <30kg?
3 ml Hartmanns x kg x % TBSA. Plus a sugar-containing solution at maintenance rate
How to estimate % burn?
Lund Browder chart: most accurate even in children
Wallace rule of nines
Palmar surface: surface area palm = 0.8% burn
When to transfer to a burns centre?
Need burn shock resuscitation
Face/hands/genitals affected
Deep partial thickness or full thickness burns
Significant electrical/chemical burns
When are Escharotomies indicated?
Indicated in circumferential full thickness burns to the torso or limbs.
Careful division of the encasing band of burn tissue will potentially improve ventilation (if the burn involves the torso), or relieve compartment syndrome and oedema (where a limb is involved)
What does sudden anaemia and a low reticulocyte count indicate?
parvovirus
When is thrombolysis with alteplase indicated?
Thrombolysis is 1st line for massive PE (ie circulatory failure) and may be instituted on clinical grounds alone if cardiac arrest is imminent; a 50 mg bolus of alteplase is recommended.
When is UFH given for PE?
(a) as a first dose bolus,
(b) in massive PE
(c) where rapid reversal of effect may be needed
Standard duration of oral anticoagulation?
4 to 6 weeks for temporary risk factors, 3 months for first idiopathic, and at least 6 months for other
ECG changes in PE?
S1, Q3, T3
Tall R waves: V1
P pulmonale (peaked P waves): inferior leads
Right axis deviation, Right bundle branch block
Atrial arrhythmias
T wave inversion: V1, V2, V3
Right ventricular strain
Features of total anterior circulation infarcts?
Involves middle and anterior cerebral arteries (15% of stroke)
3Hs- ALL THREE
Hemiparesis/hemisensory loss
Homonymous hemianopia
Higher cognitive dysfunction e.g. Dysphasia
Features of partial anterior circulation strokes?
(25% strokes)
Involves smaller arteries of anterior circulation e.g. upper or lower division of middle cerebral artery
Higher cognitive dysfunction or two of the three TACI features
Features of lacunar infarcts?
25% strokes
Involves perforating arteries around the internal capsule, thalamus and basal ganglia
Present with either isolated hemiparesis, hemisensory loss or hemiparesis with limb ataxia
Features of posterior circulation infarcts?
25% strokes
Vertebrobasilar arteries
Presents with features of brainstem damage
Ataxia, disorders of gaze and vision, cranial nerve lesions
Features of Posterior inferior cerebellar artery strokes?
Lateral medullary syndrome
Wallenberg’s syndrome
Ipsilateral: ataxia, nystagmus, dysphagia, facial numbness, cranial nerve palsy
Contralateral: limb sensory loss
What is Webers syndrome?
Ipsilateral III palsy
Contralateral weakness
Features of anterior cerebral artery infarct?
Contralateral hemiparesis and sensory loss, lower extremity > upper
Disconnection syndrome