Emergency/surgical conditions Flashcards
Causes of arrest - requiring CPR
- Hypoxaemia
- Hypovolaemia
- Hyper/hypokalaemia or metabolic disturbances
- Hypo/hyperthermia
- Tension pneumothorax
- Tamponade/cardiac
- Toxins
- Thrombosis - PE or coronary (incl spontaneous intracranial bleed)
- Trauma
How long to do CPR for?
30 minutes
What are shockable rhythms?
How many joules to give per shock?
VF
Pulsesless VT
4J/kg

Indications for giving three stacked shocks at the onset of a shockable rhythm
- in cardiac cath lab
- in ICU or cardiac ward post cardiac surgery
- in other circumstances when defibrillator is already attached
in all other cases the standard s to give one shock then bak to CPR
how many joules to give in SVT?
0.5-1J/kg - if haemodynamically unstable
Adrenaline in resus - MOA
Alpha adrenergic receptors: vasoconstriction and increase blood flow to cerebral and coronary artery circulation
Beta adrenergic receptors: inotropic and chronotrophic
Indications for amiodarone in resus
Shock resistant VF and atrial tachycardia
SE: hypotension, CHD, bradycardia
Cx of fluid boluses for hypovolaemia/shock
hyperchloraemic acidosis
oedema
hyponatraemia
Vasopressor vs inotrope
Vasopressor - causes vasoconstriction and incr MAP
Inotrope - cardiac and vascular effects -> incr contractility and CO
Noradrenaline
- effect
- receptor
- use
vasopressor
alpha 1
septic, cardiogenic and hypovolaemic shock
Adrenaline
- effect
- receptor
- use
vasopressor and chronotrope
alpha 1 and mod beta 1 and 2 effects and low dose
anaphylactic shock
add on for septic shock
Dopamine
- effect
- receptor
- use
dose dependent effects
- alpha 1 at high dose
- beta 1 med dose
- D1 and low dose
2nd lnie for septic shock
Incr SV -> incr CO
Incr splanchnic blood flow
Dobutamine
- effect
- receptor
- use
inotrope - incr cardiac contractility
beta 1 R
Use: low output cariogenic shock
2nd line for septic shock
Used post cardiac surgery
Milrinone
- effect
- receptor
- use
- inotrope
- beta 1 receptor
- use for refractory cariogenic shock
- cardiac contractility and incr HR
- Decr BP
Indications for CTB in head injury
PECARN/NICE guidelines
Impaired mental status
LOC >5 sec
Vomiting >2yo
Severe injury mechanism
Signs of basilar skull #
Severe headache
Abnormal behaviour if <2yo
Palpable skull # if <2yo
Palpable scalp haematoma (unless frontal)
Risks of CT scan
Risk of malignancy - 24% more likely in those who did not have CTB <19yo
extradural vs subdural haematoma (which metabolic disease is SDH seen in?)
EDH
- doesn’t cross suture lines
- can appear as a big egg on the head, convex/lense shaped and contained/limited in scope
SDH
- crosses suturelines
- crescent shaped
- can be extensive as not contained
- seen in SHAKEN infants (NAI)
- seen in metabolic disease glutaric aciduria type I
- can be chronic w progressive enlargement w hx of irritability, poor feeding, lethargy

Subarachnoid haemmhorage
Sx/presentation
- Intracranial bleed within cisterns and sulci
- ‘Worst headache of my life’ +/- LOC
- Meningism 6-12 hrs post beed
- SZ
- N&V
- CT sensitivities best within first 8-12 hrs, decr day 6-7
- LP: isolated RBC in CSF, non-clearing

Treatment of status epilepticus
Benzo (midaz) at 5 min, then another 5 minutes.
ConSEPT trial: re choice of 2nd line antiepileptic.
- no difference between phenytoin and keppra
- using BOTH may delay or prevent further seizures and thus need for intubation/need for PICU beds
C spine clearance
- If unconcious:
Spinally immobilise
Needs CT - IF conscious, able to communicate:
POsterior midline spinal tenderness
Painful distracting injury
Focal neurological defects
Opiod medications masking ability to communicate
–> needs plain imaging (X-rays); look for soft tissue swelling
–> re-examined if imaging looks good
–> if improved, can remove collar and clear spine
Examining C spine X-ray for ?fracture
Above C2: Normal soft tissue is <1/3 of vertebral body width
C3-C7: Normal is <1 vertebral body width, progressively narrowing towards C7
Any soft tissue swelling larger than this is abnormal , ?fracture
what does seat belt sign indicate?
significant risk of intra abdominal trauma
why are kids more prone to intraabdominal injury relative to adults?
small size so multiple system involved
thin abdo
ribs pliable, less protective
liver nad spleen relatively take up more space in abdo relative to adults
diaphragm is horizontal
seat belts ill fitting <8yo or <140cm
Potential injuries in intraabdominal trauma
Injury to liver/spleen/pancreas
-> LFTs, lipase
Intestinal rupture
GU - bladder rupture/kidney/urethral
–> need urine MCS









