ERC - special circumstances Flashcards
Is hypoxia due to apnoea or due to airway obstruction likely lead to arrest first and why?
airway obstruction
Patient trying to breathe against the obstruction which increases oxygen demand therefore leading to hypoxic cardiac arrest quicker
Name some causes of asphyxial cardiac arrest
laryngospasm, asthma, spinal cord injury, drowning, pneumonia, tension pneumothorax
What K level is considered hyperkalaemia
> 5.5 mmol/L
State some cause of hyperkalaemia
metabolic acidosis (inc diabetic keto)
ACEi, ARB, Bblocker, NSAIDs
rhabdomyolysis
AKI
What ECG changes are you looking for in hyperkalaemia
Rate: Bradycardia, VT flat P wide QRS Peaked T Sine wave - S and T merge
A long transit time would lead to hyper or hypo kalaemia
hyper - K released in the clotting process
Management of a mild hyperkalaemia (5.5-5.9mmol/L)
Calcium resonium 15g 4x/day oral -
Management of moderate (6-6.4) and severe (>6.5) hyperkalaemia without ECG changes
25g glucose (50ml 50%) + 10 unit soluble short acting insulin IV over 10 minutes \+ calcium resonium or dialysis
Management of moderate (6-6.4) and severe (>6.5) hyperkalaemia with ECG changes
10ml 10% calcium chloride IV over 2-5 minutes
repeat dose after 5 minutes if needed
+ 25g (50ml 50% glucose) and 10 units insulin
+ calcium resonium or dialysis
+ salbutamol nebulisers 10-20mg
In which patients hyperkalaemic would you consider dialysis
end stage renal failure
oliguric AKI
rhabdomyolysis
Define mild, moderate and severe hyperkalaemia
mild 5.5-5.9
moderate 6-6.5
severe >6.5
What monitoring is needed during hyperkalaemia management
pottasium
ECG
glucose (risk of hypo due to treatment)
A hyperkalaemic patient has severe acidosis or renal failure, what additional drug would you consider
sodium bicarbonate
signs of hyperkalaemia
parasthesia
loss of deep tendon reflex
flaccid paralysis
signs of hypokalaemia
fatigue
weakness
cramps
constipation
K level defining hypokalaemia
<3.5mmol/L
causes of hypokalaemia
diarrhoea K losing diuretics metabolic alkalosis hypomagnesaemia steroids
ECG signs of hypokalaemia
Flat T
U wave
Management of hypokalaemia
replace K slowly unless emergency in which case you can give 20mmol/hr
Management of a tension pneumothorax
intubate, PPV and decompress the chest
Why is a needle decompression not often used
Chest wall thickness often too thick for it to work
Describe a thoracostomy in tension pneumothorax management
PPV
cut and then dissect to reach the pleural cavity
a chest tube can then be inserted
Describe some general management options to decontaminate and enhance elimination of poisons
50-100g activated charcoal
whole bowel irrigation
haemodyalysis
benzodiazepine toxicity management
flumazenil
opioid toxicity management
400 micorgrams naloxone
TCA toxicity presentation
VT
hypotension
seizures
TCA toxicity management
sodium bicarbonate 1-2mmol/kg
B blocker toxicity management
limited evidence but can try glucagon or insulin and glucose
CCB toxicity management
20ml 10% calcium chloride
Digoxin toxicity management
Digoxin-FAB antidote
cyanide toxicity management
hydroxycobalabamin
sodium thiosulfate
Which benzo toxicity patients would you not give flumazenil to
if they coingested TCAs
aspirin toxicity management
urinary alkalinisation with IV sodium bicarbonate
Brief overview of traumatic CA management
treat the reversible causes. These take priority over compressions
- hypovolaemia - control catastrophic haemorrhage
- hypoxia - control airway
- tension pneumothorax - bilateral chest decompression
- tamponade
how is external haemorrhage controlled
direct pressure, torniquet, pelvic binder
blood products
TXA 1g over 10 minutes
further 1g infused over 8 hours
how is airway managed in traumatic CA
immediate intubation if possible but if not SGA
how should a traumatic CA patient be ventilated and why
Low tidal volume and rate as aggressive ventilation and PPV leads to increased intrathoracic pressure and therefore reduced diastolic filling and reduced CO
aim for normocapnoea
You are with a traumatic CA patient, they arrested <10 minutes ago, you have the expertise, equipment and right environment, what do you do
consider a resuscitative thoracotomy
when is a resuscitative thoracotomy considered
cardiac arrest <10 minutes ago + penetrating chest/epigastrium injury + expertise, equipment and environment suitable
when in CPR stopped in traumatic CA
all reversible causes addressed
15 minutes downtime
obvious mortal injury
no cardiac activity on USS
a traumatic CA patient reaches hospital, what happens now
damage control resuscitation:
permissive hypotension + haemostatic resuscitation + damage control surgery
describe permissive hypotension
Fluids given to maintain:
systolic pressure at 80-90
radial pulse
describe haemostatic resuscitation
ratio of packed red cells: platelets: FFP is 1:1:1
What should you look for when diagnosis anaphylaxis
acute onset
life threatening problems with airway, breathing, circulation
skin or mucosal changes
Initial steps (before drugs) in anaphylaxis management
remove trigger
call for help
lie patient flat with legs raised (unless their breathing is easier sat up)