Principles of an ABCDE assessment

Question 1

what does ABCDE stand for

Answer 1

Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability
Exposure

Question 2

what are the airway checks

Answer 2

Is the airway patent
are there signs of blockage e.g. seesaw breathing
are there any sounds from the airway e.g., stridor, wheeze, snoring, gurgling

Question 3

airway management

Answer 3

airway manoeuvres - head tilt chin lift and jaw thrust
adjuncts - oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal adjuncts
oxygen delivery - 15l/min through non re-breather mask

Question 4

breathing checks

Answer 4

respiratory rate (12-20 breaths/ min)
Oxygen saturation (95%)
chest movement

Question 5

Breathing management

Answer 5

oxygen delivery - 15l/min through non re-breather mask
reassurance
inhaler ?

Question 6

circulation checks

Answer 6

heart rate (60-100bpm)
blood pressure (120/70)
capillary refill time
colour

Question 7

what is tachycardia

Answer 7

fast HR
>100bpm

Question 8

what is bradycardia

Answer 8

slow HR
<60bpm

Question 9

circulation management

Answer 9

supine position - lie on back with legs raised
medication - GTN or aspirin may be required
oxygen - 15l/min

Question 10

Disability checks

Answer 10

ACVPU
Alert
Confusion
Verbal
Pain
Unresponsive

Blood glucose - if below 4mmols then patient is hypoglycaemic

Question 11

how can you measure blood glucose

Answer 11

glucometer

Question 12

exposure checks

Answer 12

signs of: rash, blood loss, swelling, bruising, flushing, clamminess, cuts
temperature - temp over 38 degrees celsius is pyrexial

Question 13

what does SBAR stand for

Answer 13

situation
background
assessment
recommendation