medical emergencies Flashcards
What are normal ranges?
RR- 12-20 breaths per min
O2 saturation- over 95%, 88% in COPD
HR- 60-100bpm
Blood pressure- 110-140 systolic
Temperature- 36.1-38
Glucose- 4-7mmol/L
How do you manage a medical emergency?
DRABCDE
Danger
Response
If not breathing- CPR, call 999
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability
What is adrenaline for?
Anaphylaxis
500mg IM
Repeated 5 min intervals if necessary
<6yrs 150mg
6-12yrs 300mg
>12 yrs 500mg
What is a beta2 bronchodilator inhaler for?
Eg salbutamol
Asthma attack
2 actuations inhaled
Spacer device and repeats if necessary
What is GTN spray for?
Angina/suspected heart attack
2 actuations sub lingually
May be repeated
What is dispersible aspirin for?
Suspected heart attack
300mg oral chewed
What is quick acting glucose for?
Hypoglycaemia (pt can swallow safely)

15-20g eg. 1.5-2 tubes of Glucogel
What is glucagon for?
Hypoglycaemia (eg. Unconscious)
1mg IM
<8 yrs (<25kg) 0.5mg
What is midazolam oromucosal solution for?
Prolonged convulsive seizures (>5mins)/repeated (>3 an hour)
Buccal, single dose 10mg
<5yrs 5mg
5-10yrs 7.5mg
What are causes of loss of consciousness?
Meds (opiates, benzodiazepines, alcohol, drugs, anaphylaxis, poisoning)
Cardiac (arrhythmia, MI, cardiac arrest, vasovagal, hypovolaemia, orthostatic hypotension)
Neuro (seizure, intracranial haemorrhage)
Chest (PE, hypoxia, aortic dissection)
Ab (sepsis, ruptured AAA, ectopic pregnancy)
Endocrine (hypo/hyperglycaemia, Addisonian crisis)
What is vasovagal syncope?
Most common
Overstimulation of vagus nerve +/- sympathetic tone loss
Posture
Provoking factors
Prodromal symptoms
Rapid recovery, headache, mild nausea
DRABCD Recovery position if unconscious, lie down and raise legs
What are red flag signs of syncope?
Loss of consciousness during exertion
Hx of heart disease
Family hx of heart disease/sudden death
New/unexplained breathlessness
>65yrs w/o prodromal symptoms
What are causes of seizures?
Epilepsy
Drug/alcohol intoxication/withdrawal
Intracranial infection
Metabolic disturbances
Intracranial lesion
How do you manage seizure?
Don’t put anything in mouth
DRABCD
Position, consider airway when post-ictal, recovery position?
Give oxygen
Check glucose and give if low
Consider buccal midazolam
What is sepsis?
Life threatening end organ dysfunction due to a dysregulated host immune response to infection
How might sepsis present?
Fever/hypothermia
Hypotension
Confusion/reduced consciousness
Signs of infection
Difficulty breathing