Acute Care Flashcards
(189 cards)
What is the most common cause of paediatric deaths in children aged 1- 4 years?
trauma
What is the most effective strategy to prevent submersion injuries in children? how high? how many adults per baby? per child?
4 sided fence with self-locking, self-closing gates
must be at least 4 feet high
Toddlers should always be within arm’s length of an
adult, even in a bathtub
1 adult per baby and 1 adult per 2 young children
what is the most common preventable cause of death? who is at greatest risk?
submersion injury
children <5
typically during summer months
M>F
Do swimming programs for children < 4 years decrease rates of drowning?
NO! Swimming programs for children < 4 years do not
decrease rates of drowning
who is too young to wear PFD?
Babies who cannot sit unsupported are too young to wear PFDs
Should be worn by all infants at least 9 kg
what medical conditions are risk factors for submersion injuries? (4)
Seizure disorder
toxin (primarily ethanol)
prolonged QT
syncope
what are risk factors for submersion injury? (4)
leaving children unattended
alcohol or drug abuse (50% of adult drownings)
limited swimming ability
underlying medical condition (Seizure disorder, toxin, prolonged QT, syncope)
when is cervical spine immobilization recommended for submersion injuries?
diving
alcohol or other substances
trauma (boat, water skis)
* should not delay removal from water, can delay rescue breaths, hypoxia is the most common reason people don’t make it
After a submersion injury what type of ventilation if they are breathing? if they are not breathing?
spontaneously breathing- high flow oxygen
if they fail high flow oxygen- non invasive ventilation (CPAP)
non breathing- endotracheal intubation
decompress stomach after airway secured
avoid routine use of abdominal thrusts
What investigations would you order for submersion injury
early arterial blood gas to assess degree of hypoxemia electrolytes BUN, CRE CXR- to look for signs of ARDs EKG Ethanol level Core temperature
what must the temperature be before you can stop resuscitation?
discontinue resuscitation efforts only after temp 35C
A 14 y.o. M is pulled from an icy lake
after being found face down. What is
the most important strategy
influencing survival
Immediate CPR by rescuers
what are good prognostic indicators after submersion injury? (4)
- Return of spontaneous circulation in < 10 min
- Submersion < 5 min
- Pupils equal and reactive at scene
- Normal sinus rhythm at scene
what are poor prognostic indicators after submersion injury? (3)
- Delayed CPR
- Return of spontaneous circulation > 25 min
- Submersion > 10 min
what are some complications of submersion injury? (6)
ARDS Pulmonary edema Pneumonia Cerebral edema leading to increased ICP Trauma Hypothermia
what is hypothermia?
core temp <35C
can occur in water as warm as 21C
At what temperature does shivering stop?
core temp <32C
what are the 3 major metabolic disturbances associated with hypothermia?
hypoglycemia hypokalemia hypocalcemia metabolic acidosis * also associated with pancreatits* coagulopathy
what findings are associated with core temp:
31-32C
28-31C
<28C
31-32 C
- Normal ECG, ↑ HR, ↑ BP, loss of shivering
28-31 C
- ↓ HR, ↓ BP, flipped T, atrial fibrillation, sluggish,
dilated pupils, pathognomonic J wave
< 28 C
- absent pulse and BP, VF, coma, fixed dilated pupils
A 12 year girl was pulled from a lake and presents to the ED with a core temp of 28 C. What is the name given to the upward deflections on her ECG?
Osborn waves/ J wave
what EKG findings are associated with a T <32
Marked sinus bradycardia
First degree AV block
Osborn or J waves
Associated with prolonged QT and bradycardia
If a patient has a pulse and a core temp of 34-36 how do you rewarm them?
passive rewarming
remove wet clothes
dry
If a patient has a pulse and a core temp of 30-34 how do you rewarm them?
Passive AND active external warming of truncal areas only • electric blanket • overhead warmer • hot water bottles • heating pads Minimizes “after-drop” or shock associated with peripheral vasodilation
If a patient has a pulse and a core temp <30 how do you rewarm them?
Active external and internal rewarming • Warmed IV or intraosseous (IO) fluid (without K+) at 43 C • Warm humidified oxygen at 42-46 C • Peritoneal lavage, ECMO, esophageal warming tubes Do not delay advanced airway placement