Medical Emergencies

Question 1

What acronym is used to assess an acutely ill patient?

Answer 1

ABCDE

Airway
Breathing 
Circulation 
Disability 
Exposure

Question 2

Describe how you would assess someones airway. (2)

Answer 2

Assess if the patient can speak to you

Assess mouth for obstructions

Question 3

What adjuncts can you use if the airway is compromised?

Answer 3

Chin tilt and jaw thrust

Oropharyngeal airway

Question 4

How do you measure an oropharyngeal airway?

Answer 4

Hold the OPA next to the face and measure against the angle of the mandible to the vertical height of the incisors

(teeth should be at the bite block)

Question 5

What is a normal breathing rate?

Answer 5

12 breaths per minute

Question 6

What are causes of breathlessness? (3)

Answer 6

Infection
demand
inflammation

Question 7

How do we assess breathing? (4)

Answer 7

Assess breathing rate
look for chest expansion
listen to the chest
feel for movement

Question 8

What is a useful tip when feeling for breathing movements?

Answer 8

never tell anyone you’re counting respiratory rate as they will subconsciously alter it

ask to feel pulse and put hand on shoulder to feel for movement.

Question 9

How do you treat breathing problems within the dental setting? (3)

Answer 9

Get the patient into the tripod position (bent over)

Give oxygen

provide bronchodilators

Question 10

what are causes of circulatory abnormalities? (4)

Answer 10

Arrhythmia’s
Acute coronary syndrome
Heart failure
loss of fluids/blood

Question 11

What should you do if you suspect the patient has an arrhythmia and why?

Answer 11

seek medical attention as in a dental practice we don’t have the equipment to monitor or treat

Question 12

How do we assess circulatory problems? (3)

Answer 12

pulse check

assess capillary refill

record limb temp

Question 13

What is the minimum systolic pressure you can feel in the wrist?

Answer 13

100

Question 14

What is the minimum systolic pressure you can feel in the brachial region?

Answer 14

60

Question 15

What is the minimum systolic pressure you can feel in the neck?

Answer 15

50

- organ perfusion stops at 45

Question 16

Describe how to assess capillary refill.

What is the refill of a healthy individual?

Answer 16

press nail bed for 5 seconds and observe refill.

• health = 2 secs refill

Question 17

What variables can alter capillary refill? (2)

Answer 17

Weather i.e. cold

Age

Question 18

What temperature is regarded as fever?

Answer 18

37.8

Question 19

What are the treatment options for circulatory problems? (3)

Answer 19

treat the cause - most increased heart rates are physiological

elevate the legs

apply pressure - if fluid/blood loss

Question 20

What does disability refer to in medical emergencies?

Answer 20

Gross neurological function

Question 21

What are the causes of disability?

Answer 21

drugs and alcohol

brain injury

hypoglycaemia

Question 22

How do we assess disability? (7)

Answer 22

ACVPU

is the patient alert?

is the patient newly confused?

does the patient respond to verbal stimulus?

does the patient have a normal response to pressure in the trapezium muscle?
(move out the way of the stimulus)

is the patient unresponsive or unconscious?

• shine a light in the pupils, they should react equally on both sides
• assess motor movement

Question 23

How do we assess exposure in the dental setting? (3)

Answer 23

Limited

assess colour of face, hands

assess the vessels in the neck,

Has the patient loss continence.

Question 24

What must we do once we have completed A to E and why?

Answer 24

Reassess

• important to observe trends/deterioration