Medical Emergencies Flashcards
What are 5 signs and symptoms of fainting (vaso-vagal syncope)?
- dizziness
- nausea
- pale, cold, clammy skin
- rapid pulse followed by slow, thready pulse
- possible muscle twitching
How is fainting managed?
- ABCDE
- lie flat, elevate legs and loosen tight clothing, oxygen? (usually not necessary)
- once conscious, glucose or sugary drink
What are 4 predisposing factors of fainting?
- anxiety
- pain
- fasting
- fatigue
What are 5 signs and symptoms of hyperventilation (panic attack)?
- rapid, shallow breathing
- dizziness
- shaking
- tachycardia
- muscle/chest pain
What are 2 predisposing factors of hyperventilation?
- anxiety
- pain
What are 5 signs and symptoms of an epileptic seizure?
- sudden loss of consciousness
- preceding aura
- rigid appearance
- generalised jerking
- incontinence
What are 4 predisposing factors of an epileptic seizure?
- hunger
- flickering flights
- stress
- drugs
How is an epileptic seizure managed?
- ABCDE
- oxygen 15 litres/min
- note timing of seizure
- once jerking movements ease, recovery position
IF LASTING LONGER THAN 5 MINS - midazolam buccal 10mg for adults (from age 10)
- midazolam buccal 5mg 1-4 years
- midazolam buccal 7.5mg 5-9 years
What are 5 signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
- shaking/trembling
- slurred speech
- sweating and pallor
- lethargy
- confusion/aggression
What are 3 predisposing factors of hypoglycaemia?
- missed meal
- excess insulin
- increased calorific need resulting from exercise or stress
How is hypoglycaemia managed?
- ABCDE
- 1.5-2 tubes of glucogel
- record blood sugar to confirm diagnosis
- glucagon 1mg IM adults
- glucagon 0.5mg IM under 8
What are 3 signs and symptoms of acute asthma?
- tight chest
- shortness of breath
- expiratory wheezing
What are 4 predisposing factors of acute asthma?
- anxiety
- allergy
- infection (cold)
- exercise
How is acute asthma managed?
- ABCDE
- sit upright
- 2 puffs (100 micrograms) salbutamol inhaler (use of spacer)
- if no response, call 999 and whilst waiting oxygen 15l/min
- give another puff every 60 secs up to a maximum of 10
What are 8 signs and symptoms of anaphylactic shock?
- facial flushing
- itching
- facial swelling
- cold, clammy skin
- nausea
- wheezing
- numbness
- feeling of faintness
How is anaphylactic shock managed?
- ABCDE
- call 999
- lie flat, elevate legs
- oxygen 15 litrs/min
- give adrenaline IM (500 micrograms - 0.5mls 1:1000)
- repeat adrenaline at 5 min intervals until adequate response
What are 2 differential diagnosis of acute chest pain?
- angina
- heart attack
What are 3 predisposing factors of acute chest pain?
- stress
- emotion or excitement
- exercise
What are 5 signs and symptoms of acute chest pain?
- severe crushing pain which may radiate to arms, neck, jaw, abdomen
- sweating
- vomiting
- breathlessness
- pallor, ‘grey with pain’
What is the management for angina?
-sit down, rest
- GTN (1-2 sublingually)
- no relief after a few mins, repeat GTN
- still no relief - heart attack protocol
What is the management for heart attack?
- ABCDE
- call 999
- comfortable positioning
- GTN spray 400-800mcg (typically 1-2 activations sublingually)
- dispersible aspirin 300mg to chew
What are 4 signs and symptoms of a stroke?
- loss of consciousness
- unilateral weakness
- difficulty with speech
- drooping of one side of face
What is a predisposing factor of a stroke?
- hypertension
What is the management for a stroke?
F - facial weakness
A - arm weakness
S - speech problems
T - time to call 999
- ABCDE
- act FAST and call 999
- oxygen 15 litres/min
- nil by mouth
