Paediatric Basic Life Support Flashcards
How does a paediatric airway differ from an adult airway?
- large tongue
- large head
- large epiglottis
- short neck
- protuberant occiput
- funnel shaped, narrow trachea
- floor of mouth easily compressed
How does paediatric breathing differ from adult breathing?
- higher respiratory rate
- low oxygen reserve with high oxygen consumption
- smaller alveolar interface
- quick to become hypoxic
What is a normal paediatric respiratory rate?
30-40 breaths per minute
- adult is 12-15 breaths per minute
What is the surface area of the paediatric alveolar interface
3 metres squared
- adult is 70 metres squared
How does paediatric circulation compare to adult circulation?
- higher heart rate
- low circulating volume
What is a normal infant heart rate?
140bpm
- 60-100bmp in adults
What is a normal infant circulating blood volume?
240ml
- 5l in adults
What pulse should be palpated for infants?
brachial pulse
- can also use femoral pulse
What pulse should be palpated for children?
carotid pulse
What are common causes of paediatric airway obstruction?
- congenital abnormalities
- secretions
- infection
- pharyngeal swelling
- trauma
- epiglottis
- foreign body
- drowning
- CNS depression
What is the most common paediatric arrhythmia?
severe bradychardia
How does severe bradycardia deteriorate in children?
- deteriorates to pulseless electrical activity (PEA) or asystole
What are the paediatric morbidity and mortality rates of out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)?
survival rate of 4-12%
What percent of children survive out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without neurological impairment?
<5%
How do cardiac arrests usually start and progress within children?
- starts as primary respiratory arrest
- deteriorates into secondary cardiac arrest
What causes myocardial disfunction in paediatric cardiac arrest?
severe tissue hypoxia
What acronym should be used for paediatric basic life support?
S - safety
S - stimulate
S - shout
A - airway
B - breathing
C - circulation
R - reassess
How should infants be stimulated during basic life support assessment?
- tug hair
- move arms
- shout
How should children be stimulated during basic life support assessment?
- shake shoulders
- shout
How should an infant airway be checked?
- head in neutral position
- jaw thrust
- finger sweep
How should a child airway be checked?
- head tilt chin lift OR jaw thrust
- finger sweep
How should paediatric breathing be assessed?
- look, listen and feel for 10 seconds
- look for other signs of life
- simultaneously check pulse
How should infant circulation be assessed?
- check brachial/femoral pulse
- check for no longer than 10 seconds
- look for other signs of life
How should child circulation be assessed?
- check carotid pulse
- check for no longer than 10 seconds
- look for other signs of life
