RCEM best practice guidelines Flashcards
Which two IM sedative drugs at what doses are recommended for ABD by RCEM 1st line
Ketamine 4mg/kg IM and droperidol 5-10mg IM
In ABD - what agents are recommended second line IM and at what doses? (2) What circumstances might they be used?
Midazolam 5-10mg IM.
Haloperidol 5mg IM +/- 2mg IM lorazpeam
Used if concerned re: sympathethitc increases
How can we manage risk to patients being restrained? (5)
- Assess capacity
- Least restrictive restraint
- Try verbal de-escalation
- Observations when able
- Safety person - eyes on patient not involved
How can we manage risk to staff? (4)
- Early security
- Sufficient numbers for restraint
- Police if needed
- Only staff trained for restraint
When would we call the police to assist with a difficult patient in the ED? (3)
- Staff injured
- Risk of serious injury
- Delay to security
How is it best to restrain a patient? (4)
- Avoid prolonged
- As least restrictive as possible
- De-escelate ASAP
- NOT prone
What makes a good environment to de-escalate? (7)
- Many exits
- Doors open outward
- Quiet
- Not too warm
- No furniture
- No ligature points
- Constantly obsverable
Re: rapid tranquilisation in the elderly what agents should we use and what should we avoid?
- 5mg droperidol safe
- Benzos can prolong delirium
- Avoid droperidol and haloperidol in PD
What is the most discriminating factor in aortic dissection?
Pain worse at onset
What percentage of 1. CXR and 2. ECG are normal in aortic dissection?
- 15% normal CXR
- 30% normal ECG
What percentage of TTE will miss dissection? How sensitive is TOE?
- 30%
- 99%
What are the different phases of CTA and what are they for? (3)
- Initial non-contrast - assess intramural haematoma
- Post contrast CT shows extent of dissection
- Arterial phase with ECG synchronisation (gated scan) provides motion free images
When should we include just the thorax for CT aorta?
Low and intermediate risk (may need completing if abnormality found
What are the high risk conditions for dissection? (5)
- Marfans
- Connective tissue disorders
- FHx aortic disease
- Known aortic valve disease
- Recent aortic manipulation
What are the two high risk features for aortic dissection?
- Severe and abrupt chest/back/abdo pain
- Ripping/tearing pain or radiating to back
1
What are the high risk findings with regards to aortic dissection? (3)
- SBP difference >20mmHg between arms
- Focal neurological deficit
- New aortic regurgitation murmur (early diastolic)
When does RCEM recommend requesting CTA?
No other cause found and ANY high risk factor
How many Joules are there per pulse in CAD (controlled energy device?)
0.1 Joules/pulse
What injuries is a CAD likely to cause and which two are the most common? (4)
- Fall secondary to paralysis
- Forceful muscle contraction and lead to #/dislocations
- Retained barbs and superficial burns most common
What can CADs rarely lead to (4)
- Arrhythmia
Single case of:
2. Miscarriage
3. Seizure
4. Stroke
When should we perform an ECG in CAD discharges? (4)
- ICD
- PPM
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
With regards to the police and patients with CAD what should we ensure? (3)
- Record names of officers in ED and which station they are from
- Discharge letter should have safety netting advice and tx had
- Patient advice leaflet
What are the RCEM recommendations for pain management in adults (5)
- Pain should be assessed in <15mins arrival
- Mod-severe pain should have analgesia <15mins
- Severe pain should be re-evaluated 15 mins after first dose
- Pain should be recorded like observations
- Annual pain audit
What are super strong magnets made out of?
Neodymium
When are we concerned particularly about the ingestion of super strong magnets? (2)
- When there are more than one
- When patient is symptomatic (50-75% perforate)
What imagining do children with ingestion of superstrong magnets need? (3)
- CXR
- AXR
- If single magnet needs lateral XR to ensure not 2
What discharge criteria are there for children following super strong magnet ingestion (6) and what follow up do they need?
- Single magnet
- Accidental
- No co-morbidities
- Tolerating PO intake
- <24 hour ingestion
- Care giver to observe
Needs follow up XR 6-12 hours - not progressing needs d/w paeds surgeons
At what population prevalence dose RCEM recommend routine HIV testing?
> 2/1000
What is a:
1. Body packer
2. Body stuffer
3. Parachuting
4. Pusher
- Swallowed drugs, well wrapped
- Concealed drugs in cling film in mouth, can be swallowed to avoid detection.
- Recreational drug technique, treat as a stuffer
- Insert into anus/vagina
With police and suspected internal drug traffickers what do we need to keep in mind? (2)
- Police must stay with patient and they must remain under arrest
- Patient has the right to talk to a doctor without police
Do the police have the legislative powers to authorise intimate search?
Yes but ED physicians do not have to comply and it is not recommended (rupture, can be missed)
What is recommended imaging for suspected internal drug traffickers and what do we need to tell the patient (3)?
Low dose CT abdomen and pelvis
- Need consent
- Need to know it may not change management
- Need to know that could be used as evidence
If patient with suspected internal drug trafficking is in cardiac arrest what should we keep in mind?
Prolonged resusitation up to an hour can have good outcomes
What is the management including observation times for body stuffers/parachuting? (3)
- Signs/symptoms needs >8 hours observation and follow toxbase
- Need at least 8 hours observation even if refuse tx
- LDCT will allow earlier discharge
What is the management of body pushers including observation time? (4)
- Signs/symptoms needs >8 hours observation and follow toxbase
- Need at least 8 hours observation even if refuse tx
- LDCT will allow earlier discharge
- If unwell must way up risk/benefit of intimate search
What is the management of body packers who are symptomatic and have positive CT?
- Urgent surgical removal
- Benzo/nitrates for HTN
- Bicarbonate if acidotic
- Endoscopy can lead to rupture of packaging
- CT with contrast can help plan surgery but should not delay tx
How should body packers with positive imaging who are aymptomatic be managed?
Can be observed and managed in custody
How should body packers with positive imaging and mild symptoms be managed? (2)
Observed in hospital
Consider laxatives/bowel irrigation but isotonic (klean-prep or movicol) as theoretical risk of rupture
How should body packers who are asymptomatic and refusing imaging be managed?
Discharge back to custody
What are the considerations with respect to confirmation of clearance from body packers? (3)
- If not passed after 48 hours unlikely to
- If LDCT performed number of packages passed should be counted against those on CT
- LDCT may need to be used to confirm clearance
How should we give discharge advice to patients going back to custody following internal drug trafficking? (3)
- Sealed envolope FAO custody HCA
- Number of packages removed .remaining
- Thorough documentation of triggers to return/safety netting
What does RCEM recommend about FIBs in ED? (7)
- Available all EDs
- Done ASAP
- Clinicians performing should have completed competency assessment
- Observed closely for 1 hour
- Intralipid should be easily available
- Departments should have policy
- Invasive procedure checklist ‘stop before you block’
What are the advantages of FIB over femoral block in ED (2) ?
- Decrease risk of intraneural and intravascular injection
- Lateral cutaneous nerve gives block to thigh
What patient group should not have FIB and which group are relatively c/i ? (1 + 1)
- Obtunded patients - unable to report signs LA toxicity
- Anticoagulated patients - follow local guidance
How does RCEM recommend making FIB safer? (3)
- US guidance
- 5ml then aspirate
- 1 hour observation post block
What does RCEM recommend doing to prevent absconding?
- Prioritise assessment of those at risk absconding and consider direct referral to psych or concurrent management
- Assess capacity at triage
- Physical description at triage
- Inform them of likely wait time
- Observe every 15 mins or continually
What principles do RCEM recommend with regards to restraint? (4)
- EPs requesting restraint should be clear with legal justification and in notes
- Should be proportionate
- Should be as least restrictive as possible
- Should have written agreement with security re: restraint