ABCDE Flashcards
ABCDE assessment, managing obstructed airways
What are signs of an airway obstruction?
LOOK
-Paradoxical chest and abdomen movements (see-saw)
-Use of accessory muscles
-Posturing (sitting up, tripod)
- Holding throat
- WOB + tracheal tug
- Cyanosis
LISTEN
- Noisy breath sounds [partial]
- Silent [full]
How can an airway obstruction be managed?
CALL FOR HELP
MANOUVERS
- Head tilt, Chin lift, Jaw thrust
ADJUNCTS
- OPA
- NPA
-Supraglottic airway/LMA
-ETT
OTHER
-Suction
-Obstruction removal
-Suction tracheostomy
-Oxygenation
Describe RATES?
Rate
Auscultation
Trachea
Effort
SPO2
(alternative: Look, Listen, Feel)
Describe a circulatory assessment.
LOOK
- Colour
- Haemorrhage (“Blood on floor and 4 more”)
-Access?
- ECG/Rhythm
LISTEN
- Auscultate heart sounds/bp
FEEL
- Temperature
- Diaphoresis
- CRT
- Vein Quality
- Pulse quality
VITAL SIGNS
- HR
- BP
- CRT
- URINE OUTPUT 0.5ml-1ml/kg/hour
What is pulse pressure and how does it differentiate between shock types?
The difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure. 35-45mmHg.
Narrow - arterial vasocon, cardiogenic and hypovolaemic shock
Wide - arterial vdilation, anaphylaxis and sepsis
Describe the assessment of disability.
AVPU
GCS
PERL
BSL
Drugs [chart]
What is treatment of hypoglycaemia?
UNCONCIOUS
- 50ml 10% IV Dextrose minutely until either
–consciousness achieved
–max 250ml
-IM glucagon 1mg
- Buccal glucose
CONCIOUS
- Oral glucose
- IV glucose
Causes of airway obstruction?
TRAUMA
- Maxofacial
- Neck Trauma
- Mucosal burns
PHYSIOLOGICAL
- Laryngospasm
- Bronchospasm
ANATOMICAL
- OSA
- Floppy epiglottis (children)
- Blocked Trachaeostomy
CONDITIONS
- Anaphylaxis
- Oedema
- Tonsilitis/Quinsy
- Croup (???)
FOREIGN BODY
- Blood/vomitus
- Teeth
- Object
- Secretions
List causes of respiratory distress.
TRAUMA
- Tension Pneumo
- Flail chest/rib fracture
- Maxofacial/Neck
ACUTE CONDITIONS
- Anaphylaxis
- Pulmonary Odema
- PE
- ARDS
- Acute on chronic COPD
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- APO
- MI
- Sepsis
SUPRESSION
- Overdose [opioid, benzo]
- Opioids
- Brain Injury
- Decompensation
- Anaesthetics [low tolerance or too much]
Describe the algorithm for managing choking?
EFFECTIVE COUGH
- Encourage coughing
INEFFECTIVE COUGH AND CONSCIOUS
- Call for help
- Encourage coughing
- 5 back blows, check patient, 5 chest thrusts
- Continue until resolved or unconscious
UNRESPONSIVE
-send for help, start CP
Airway: Assessment, treatment
ASSESSMENT
- Patency [open, compromised, obstructed]
TREATMENT
- Airway Manoeuvres
- Suction
- Adjuncts [opa, npa, sga, ett]
- O2
When might JVP be seen?
Tension pneumothorax
Severe Asthma
What might the following audible airway noises indicate: rattling, stridor, wheeze, snore.
RATTLING
- Secretions in upper airway
STRIDOR
- Partial airway obstruction
WHEEZE
- Collapsing alveoli in lungs, inadequate ventilation due to this
ABSENT
- Severe asthma, life threat
SNORE
- OSA
- Partial obstruction
What does percussed hyperresonance mean?
Pneumothorax
What might the following auscultated sounds indicate: dullness, absent, reduced, wheeze?
DULLNESS
- consolidation, infection, mass
ABSENT
- pneumothorax, one lung
REDUCED
- infection, poor ventilation
WHEEZE
-collapsed alveoli asthma
