Principles of Resuscitation Flashcards
What is resuscitation?
Process of correcting physiological disorders in an acutely unwell or injured patient
Who sets the standards for CPR and related disciplines in the UK?
The Resuscitation council
What is required for oxygen delivery to organs?
Adequate airway, breathing and circulation
What can inadequate oxygen delivery lead to?
Organ failure = causes cardio-respiratory arrest
Avoided by early detection and treatment
What are the objectives in initial trauma management?
Identify and treat life threatening injuries whilst considering mechanism of injury
Identify any other problem
Arrange appropriate treatment and investigations
Arrange and transfer to definitive care
What are common mechanisms of injury of trauma?
RTA = 1/3 of all major trauma presentations
Falls, interpersonal violence, suicide, work place accidents
What is the most commonly affected patient group in trauma?
Young men aged 18-40
What is the primary survey of a patient?
General impression = airways, breathing, circulation, disability, exposure
What questions should you ask yourself on the initial arrival of an unwell patient?
Are we in the best place/position?
What equipment do I need?
Do I have enough help?
Who am I going to call?
What makes up an AMPLE history?
Allergies, medications, past medications, last ate, events leading up to presentation
What should be considered alongside the airway?
Cervical spine and exsanguinating haemorrhage
What aspects of the airway are assessed?
Open/closed, action required, adjuncts, do I need anaesthetic support?
What are some causes of airway obstruction in trauma?
Loss of pharyngeal tone with posterior tongue displacement, displaced facial fracture, vomitus/blood/secretions, soft tissue swelling/oedema/inhalation burns, direct laryngeal trauma
How is the airway managed?
Basic to advanced airway management depending on skill, possible suction
What should be considered when assessing breathing?
Present/absent, adequate ventilation, oxygen source and means of delivering oxygen
Look, feel, percuss and listen, resp rate and O2 sats
Who should get high flow oxygen?
All patients
What is the management of some life threatening injuries that may affect breathing?
Tension pneumothorax = oxygen, needle thoracocentesis, chest drain
Massive haemothorax = oxygen, chest drain, circulatory resuscitation
Flail chest = oxygen, analgesia, advanced ventilatory support
What should be ensured when assessing breathing?
Oxygenation and ventilation
What should be assessed when considering the circulation?
Present/absent = pulse assessment, blood pressure, CRT, possible ECG
Adequate perfusion = colour, conscious level
What normally causes circulation problems?
Haemorrhagic shock = may be concealed
What must be considered when assessing IV access?
If present, is it working? If not, what sort of cannula? Where to put IV line? What blood samples to take? Do you want to give fluids, and if so, which fluid?
What is the first choice fluid in major trauma?
Blood = O negative/type specific or fully cross matched, ideally ratio 1 RCC:1 FFP, permissive hypotension
What are interventions for circulation issues, other than IV fluids?
Tranexamic acid 1g IV (15mg/kg in children)
Direct pressure/tourniquet
Splint long bones, pelvic binder
Does the patient need theatre/IR to stop bleeding?
What are ways to assess disability?
Is there any evidence of head trauma?
AVPU, GCS (min 3, max 15), pupils, lateralising signs