Medical Emergencies Flashcards
___% of over 5000 dentists reported 1 or more emergencies over a 10 year period. According to another survey, dentists will experience ___ emergencies in their lifetime, usually during what procedure? 76% of medical emergencies are due to ___
90%
7.5 (38% occurred during extraction procedures)
Stress
___ is the best medicine to treat emergencies
Prevention
Prevention begins when ________. What are some things you can do to prevent medical emergencies.
The patient enters your office
Training
Have important phone numbers on hand
Go over the health hx
Have proper equipment
What are 7 basic questions you should ask about their health history to prevent medical emergencies?
1) do you have any allergies
2) is there a hx of bleeding
3) do you have SOB
4) do you have or had CP
5) are you taking any medications
6) have you ever been admitted to the hospital
7) are you taking any herbal supplements? (Drug-drug interactions, metabolites. Often cause increase in bleeding.)
What is some office equipment you should have in case of emergencies?
Oxygen tank (green) Ambu bags (given if they are having difficult time breathing) Tonsil suction Forceps Oral airways Flashlight Syringes/needles Venturi suction (portable (in case power goes out)
Medications
What does PRAY stand for in regards to the hierarchy of medical emergencies?
P: prepare in a timely, efficient manner
R: recognition of predisposing signs/symptoms
A: action plan to stabilize pt
Y: yell to know where to obtain help
What are the two classification so medical problems?
Less than life-threatening
Life threatening
Name 7 emergency medications that should be kept in the office.
Epinephrine
Diphenhydramine
Diazepam
Naloxone
Hydrocortisone
Meperidine
50% dextrose
What are 6 monitoring equipment devices that should be kept in the office?
BP
Electrocardiogram
Pulse oximeter
Capnography
Temperature monitor
Defibrillator device
What is the most common emergency in private practice? What is the second and third most common emergency?
1) syncope
2) mild allergic reaction
3) angina pectoris
What is the differential diagnosis for loss of consciousness?
Syncope Orthostatic hypotension Adrenal insufficiency Allergic reaction Airway obstruction Seizures MI/arrhythmia Hypoglycemia Stroke Drug overdose
What is the differential diagnosis for respiratory distress?
Airway obstruction (laryngospasm, foreign body)
Hyperventilation
Allergic reaction (anaphylactic vs. anaphylactioid)
COPD
CHF (pulmonary edema, dyspnea, pe)
What is the differential diagnosis for cardiovascular diseases… chest pain, BP, cardiac dysrythmias?
Chest pain: angina pectoris, MI
BP: HTN, hypotension, stroke
Cardiac dysrhythmias: bradycardia, tachycardia, arrhythmias
What are some drugs that can cause orthostatic hypotension?
Anti-HTNs
Phenothiazines
Tricyclic anti-depressants
Narcotics
Anti-parkinson drugs
What are some non-drug related causes for orthostatic hypotension?
Starvation/exhaustion
Poor postural reflex
Pregnancy
Venous pooling in legs
Endocrine dysfunction (addison’s disease)
