textbook medical emergencies

Question 1

what is the ABCDE approach?

Answer 1

A - airway - ensure kept open
B - breathing - resp rate 
C - circulation - pulse/BP
D - disability - consciousness/ glucose levels
E - exposure - skin rashes/odeama

Question 2

when is oxygen used in medical emergencies?
what rate is it given at?
what does it prevent?

Answer 2

most emergencies but not useful in hyperventilation
10-15l/min
prevents cerebral hypoxia

Question 3

what is epinephrine used for?
what dose is it given at?
what is its action?

Answer 3

anaphylactic shock
0.5mL at 5 min intervals when necessary
- suppresses histamine release, vasoconstriction, increased rate and force of cardiac contraction
relaxation of airways

Question 4

what is glucose used for?
what dosage?
action?

Answer 4

hypoglycaemia in a conscious patient
10-20g given orally
elevates glucose levels quickly

Question 5

what is glucagon used for?
what dosage?
action?

Answer 5

hypoglycaemia in an unconsciuos patient
1mg
children 0.5mg
increases glucose by converting glycogen to glucose

Question 6

what is salbutamol used for?
dosage?
action?

Answer 6

200mg - 2 puffs
asthma
relaxes bronchial muscle and allows increased airway size

Question 7

what is glycerol trinitrate used for?
dosage?
action?

Answer 7

cardiac chest pain and angina
400mg
vasodilation of coronary arteries = better blood flow

Question 8

what is aspirin used in the treatment of?
what dose?
what does it do?

Answer 8

myocardial infarction
300mg
antithrombotic effect reduces mortality

Question 9

what is midazolam used in the treatment of?
dosage?
action?

Answer 9

epileptic patient
10mg
inhibit CNS activity = anti epileptic effect

Question 10

management of conscious choking patient?

Answer 10

• • encourage coughing to disrupt blockage
• remove obvious debris from mouth
  5 back blows and 5 abdo thrusts

Question 11

management of choking patient once unconscious?

Answer 11

open airway and 2 effective breaths

30 chest compressions

Question 12

how to manage choking child?

Answer 12

baby/small child - hold upside down and 5 back blows

- back blows, abdo thrusts, chest thrusts

Question 13

how to open airways?

Answer 13

head tilt chin lift

jaw thrust

Question 14

adjuncts used to maintain airways?

Answer 14

supplemental oxygen

oropharyngeal airways - match by measuring incisors to angle of mandible

Question 15

faint signs and symptoms?

Answer 15

unwell, weak, dizzy
pallor/sweating
bradycardia - bpm <60

Question 16

faint management?

Answer 16

loosen tight clothing
oxygen administration
glucose rich drink

Question 17

signs and symptoms of hypogycaemia?

Answer 17

trembling
clammy
slurred speech imparied vision
drowsy

Question 18

what is adrenal insufficiency? addisonian crisis ?

Answer 18

an addisonian crisis is due to a lack of production of cotricosteroid hormone - patients may become hypotensive under stress and collapse