A to E assessment Flashcards
(32 cards)
what is the a-e assessment?
- structured approach used to rapidly assess and treat potentially life-threatening conditions in critically ill or injured patient
what does A-E stand for?
- airway
- breathing
- circulation
- disability
- exposure
what are the 2 things you check for in A?
- patency
- any signs of obstructions
how do you assess airway patency?
- is the patient able to talk
how can obstruction be indicated?
- stridor/ wheezing
what are the 9 things you look at in B section?
- respiratory rate
- oxygenation
- ABG
- auscultation
- chest expansion
- usage of accessory muscles
- work of breathing/ cyanosis
- ventilation (Self, non-invasive or invasive)
- support (how much and how quickly)
what can cyanosis be a sign of?
- sign of respiratory distress
what are the 6 things to assess in the C section?
- heart rate
- blood pressure
- skin colouring and warmth
- capillary refill time
- urine output
- temperature
what should the capillary refill time be?
- should be less than 2 seconds
what are the 5 things to assess in the D section?
- level of consciousness
- pupils
- blood glucose
- limb movement
- pain
what is used to measure consciousness ? (2)
- Glasglow coma scale
- ACVPU
what does ACVPU stand for?
- alert
- confusion
- voice
- pain
- unresponsive
what do you assess in terms of the pupils? (3)
- size
- reactivity
- equality
what are the 8 things you assess in the E section?
- wounds
- scars
- skin damage
- rashes
- attachments
- temperature
- pressure areas
- kidney function
what is the A-I process for chest x-rays?
- assessment of airway/ quality of film
- bones and soft tissue
- cardiac
- diaphragm
- effusions
- foreign bodies, fields and fissures
- great vessels and gastric bubble
- hilar and mediastinum
- impression
what should you do if the airways aren’t patent? (3)
- may need support from oral/ nasal airways
- tracheostomy
- endotracheal intubation
what does the B section identify? (2)
- type 1 respiratory failure
- type 2 respiratory failure
what does the B section guide? (3)
- guides need for oxygen, ventilation or airway support
why would a patient need breathing support? (2)
- to maintain oxygenation
- to maintain gas exchange
what is the main question of the C section?
- is the patient maintaining adequate blood flow and perfusion?
what does the C section detect? (3)
- shock
- cardiac arrhythmias
- hypotension
what does the C section allow?
- early fluid/ blood resuscitation
why must perfusion be maintained?
- to protect the brain and organs
what may the patient need in terms of the C section? (2)
- continuous monitoring via ECG or intravenous medication of inotropes
