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A concise overview of essential concepts and protocols in emergency medical care. It covers topics such as adequate and inadequate breathing, airway management techniques (head tilt-chin lift, jaw thrust), supplemental oxygen devices (nasal cannula, non-rebreather, bag valve mask), and various medical conditions like asthma, pneumonia, and pulmonary edema. Additionally, it addresses internal and external bleeding, soft tissue injuries (open and closed), and special considerations for drowning, altered mental status (aeiou tips), and pediatric assessment (pediatric assessment triangle). The document also includes information on pregnancy-related emergencies and the gems diamond for geriatric patients, offering a quick reference for key assessment parameters and treatment strategies in emergency situations. This information is crucial for medical students and healthcare professionals involved in emergency care, providing a structured approach to patient assessment and intervention.
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● Upper Airway Anatomy ○ Nasopharynx, oral cavity, mouth, uvula, laryngopharynx, down to larynx ○ Cricoid cartilage: firm ridge forming lower part of the larynx below thyroid cartilage (only complete ring around trachea) ○ Epiglois closes over trachea while swallowing and is at base of oropharynx ○ Pharynx is the throat and is composed of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx. ● Upper Airway Physiology ○ Warms, filter, and humidifies air as it enters mouth and nose ● Lower Airway Anatomy ○ Trachea - divides left and right into bronchi at carina which branch into the left and right lungs ○ Lungs - divided into lobes which are made of millions of Alveoli (tiny air sacs) ● Lower Airway Physiology ○ Deliver O 2 to alveoli
exhale
allows this to happen.
signals to respiratory center in the brain to change breathing rate and depth
input to adjust breathing
● 12 20 breaths/min - adult ● regular paern, rise, and fall ● adequate depth ● clear and equal lung sounds
● under 12 or over 20 with dyspnea ● irregular rhythm, unequal rise and fall ● diminished, absent, noisy lung sounds ● cyanotic or moist skin
● Head Tilt-Chin Lift - heel of one hand on patient’s forehead, firm pressure applied to tilt the patient’s head back,fingertips of alternate hand placed under lower jaw and chin lifted upward ○ can be used on trauma patient IF jaw thrust fails to open airway ○ avoid if spinal injury is suspected unless there is no alternative way to open airway ● Jaw Thrust - use if cervical/spinal trauma suspected (even if no obvious signs) - fingers behind angle of lower jaw, jaw moved upward with index and middle fingers and the thumbs help position the lower jaw ● Suction: suction mouth + nose to remove all secretions ○ Mouth - Yankauer (rigid tip) ○ Nose - French (soft top flexible) ○ Measure tip of ear to corner of mouth - 15 sections adult, 10 kids, 5 infants ● Adjuncts - used to keep airway open ○ Oropharyngeal - only use on unresponsive pts without gag reflex, inserted in pt mouth upside down and rotated 180 degrees until the flange rests on the patient's lips and/or teeth. If
● Pneumonia
○ What - infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs ○ S/S - fever, tachycardia, hypotension, dyspnea, wheezing/crackles/rhonchi, dehydration, chest pain, weight loss, AMS ○ Treatment - O 2
● Pulmonary Edema
○ What - a condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. ○ Risk Factors - history of MI/CHF ○ S/S - sudden crackles or wheezes, JVD, pedal edema ○ Treatment - O 2 + CPAP
● Pulmonary Embolism
○ What - condition when one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked by a blood clot ○ Risk Factors - long flight/travel, recent surgery, birth control use, smoking ○ S/S - shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, hypoxia, tachycardia, clear lung sounds, tender calf ○ Treatment - O 2 at 15 lpm, rapid transport
● Pneumothorax
○ Spontaneous ■ Risk Factors: associated with emphysema, asthma, tall thin men ■ S/S: dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain (sharp, stabbing pain on one side that is worse with inspiration or expiration), absent decreased breath sounds on aected side ○ Tension ■ Causes: caused by blunt trauma, fractured rib that lacerates lung or bronchus ■ S/S: chest pain, respiratory distress, decreased lung sounds, tachycardia, signs of shock, tracheal deviation
● Croup
○ What - an upper airway infection ○ Risk Factors - young children ○ S/S - fever, stridor, raspy ‘barking’ cough ○ Treatment - O 2 (blow by)
● Epigloitis
○ What - tissue protecting the windpipe becomes inflamed ○ Risk Factors - children ○ S/S - high fever, drooling, red oropharynx, mued voice ○ Treatment - O 2 (blow by)
● Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
○ What - respiratory tract infection ○ Risk Factors - not vaccinated, children ○ S/S - whoop on inhale after cough aack, dark thick mucus, fever for 1 2 weeks ○ Treatment - O 2 (blow by)PPE
● Anaphylaxis
○ What - severe allergic reaction ○ Risk Factors - insects, bees, food, meds
○ S/S - stridor, wheezing, hives, nausea/vomiting (N/V) ○ Treatment - epinephrine 0.3mg adults, 0.15mg child)
● Wheezing - high pitched whistle sound on exhale ● Rhonchi - low pitched noisy exhale ● Rales - wet sounding crackles
Normal Cheyne-Stokes
Bradypnea Kussmaul
Tachypnea Ataxic
Apnea Biot
● Hard to detect ● Contusion = clue, watch out for broken bones (ie. femur = 1L blood loss) ● S/S: tachycardia, dizzy, cool/clammy skin, dyspnea, weak cap refill, hypotension, ALOC ● Watch for blood in: ○ Stool - dark/black stool ○ Urine - hematuria ○ Vomit - hemoptysis
● Hemorrhage - bleeding (same thing) ● Average amount of blood ○ Male 70 mL/kg body weight ○ Female 65 mL/kg body weight ● Body cannot tolerate >20% blood loss ● 3 types of bleeding
● Epistaxis = nosebleed ● Hemophilia = condition aecting cloing factors ● Most bleeding stops in 10 minutes ● Treatment:
● Protective layer of skin is broke ● Abrasion - caused by friction, superficial ● Laceration - “jagged” cut ● Incision - sharp, smooth cut ● Avulsion - separated layers of soft tissues, can be detached or a flap of skin ● Amputation - part of body severed, tourniquet needed ● Evisceration - organs protrude through open wounds → don’t touch organs, cover with damp sterile gauze, occlusive dressing, tape
● Soft tissue damage underneath, no break in skin (blunt trauma), pain, discoloration, swelling at site ● Contusion - bruise, bleeding underneath skin ● Ecchymosis - black + blue discoloration ● Hematoma - damaged blood vessel bleeds into surrounding tissue ● Crush Injuries - significant force on body, can cut o circulation in region ● Crush Syndrome - when pinned 4+ hours, arterial blood flow compromised, crushed
● Impaled Object - only remove if blocking airway, control bleeding, stabilize object ● Bites - dry, sterile dressing, splint if needed for pain management
RICES (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Splint
beyond repair, harmful substances released once pt is freedCALL ALS ● Compartment Syndrome - result of edema/swelling, pressure goes up in soft tissue compartment, common in extremities, can result in tissue death
Direct pressure + hemostatic agent/tourniquet
● Types of burns ○ Thermal - Most common burn, high temp + contact time = severity ○ Chemical - Acid/Alkali, will change skin, watch areas like eyes ○ Electrical - Lightning, current ○ Radiation - Ionizing, vs nonionizing
RULE OF NINES Adult Child Infant RULE OF PALMS 1% of pts body = their palm Head 9 18 18
Torso 18 18 18
Back 18 18 18
Arms 9 9 9
Legs 18 14 14
● Adult = <15% ● Child = <10%
● 2nd degree ● Adult 15 25% ● Child 10 20%
● Chemical burn ● Inhalation burn ● High voltage burn
As well as: headache, nausea, vomiting, ALOC (altered level of consciousness), sluggish pupils, posturing, widening pulse pressure
Posturing = later sign
Abnormal flexion - decorticate posturing (arms to core), goes with Cheyne-Stokes
Abnormal extension - deceberate posturing (down and hands locked laterally), with ataxic
● Layers of brain + Hematoma
○ Outermost to innermost: Cranium, dura mater, arachnoid space, subarachnoid, pia mater, brain gray maer ○ Epidural hematoma - blood between cranium and dura mater, often lose consciousness immediately with a brief lucid interval then unconscious again. ICP increases, pupils become fixed + dilated ○ Subdural hematoma - below dura mater above arachnoid space after falls with strong deceleration forces, ICP develops more gradually, fluctuating LOC/slurred speech ○ Subarachnoid hematoma - beneath arachnoid space, bloody CSF, meningeal irritation (neck rigidity + headache), increased ICP, decreased LOC, changes in pupils/pulse, seizures
● Concussion
○ May lose memory/be confused (amnesia) ○ Retrograde amnesia - remembering everything up to event but forgeing everything after ○ Anterograde amnesia/post traumatic amnesia - forgeing everything after event ○ S/S confusion, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, photophobia (light sensitivity), balance problems ○ Grades:
● Contusion
○ Often more serious than a concussion because physical injury to the brain tissue, bleeding/swelling, increased ICP
○ Blunt injury causing a break in blood vessel, blood collects under skin (hematoma) ○ Skin flap can be peeled back from underlying muscle/fascia ● Dental Injuries ○ Lower jaw (mandible), injuries are very common, signs are misaligned teeth, numb chin, can’t open mouth, swelling, bruising, loose/missing teethREMOVE ANY TEETH/TOOTH FRAGMENTS IN MOUTH!
● Eye Injuries ○ Stabilize impalement with roller gauze donut ○ Chemical burns immediate irrigation with saline and/or water, dry dressing after ● Neck Trauma ○ Subcutaneous emphysema - air under skin, bulges a lile, crackling sensation, common with blunt trauma
○ The result of penetrating trauma (ie. GSW, stabbing to chest), causes tears in heart chamber walls ○ Pericardial sac fills with ‘fluid’ (blood), that causes ❤ to not pump fully + eectively
don’t touch organs, cover with damp sterile gauze, occlusive dressing, tape ● Acute Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis ○ Cullen's Sign - Hemorrhagic patches of skin around pt naval ○ Grey Turner's Sign - Bruising of skin around flanks ● Hematuria - Blood in urine ● Peritonitis - Inflammation of lining of abdominal wall, hollow organ leaks contents ● Kehr’s Sign - pt struck left upper quadrant, think spleen, left shoulder pain causes a hemoperitoneum (blood in peritoneal cavity)
● FractureIS THE SAME THING as break ● Closed fracture - no wound, all internal ● Open fracture - bone protruded
● Non-Displaced - one site fractured ● Displaced - deformity present ● Reduction - puing joint back in place ● Sprain - JOINT twisted beyond normal range ● Strain - MUSCLE stretch/tear
● Minor strains/sprains ● Fractured fingers/toes
● Non-displaced long bone fracture
● Displaced pelvic/long bone fracture ● Open/multiple fractures ● Bi-lateral long bone
○ Rigid - padded board (legs) ○ Formable - SAM splint (arms) ○ Sling + Swathe - (relieve pain + stabilize) ○ Pelvic Binder - (reduce possible hemorrhage, pain) ○ Traction - pulls back to natural alignment, stabilize, reduce pain
● Bones in back are called vertebrae ○ Cervical 7 - Nerve tracts, head, neck, diaphragm (C3-C5 , delts, biceps, wrist, traps, hand ○ Thoracic 12 - chest muscle, abdominal muscle ○ Lumbar 5 - leg muscles ○ Sacral 5 - b -owel, blader, sexual function ○ Coccygeal 4 - N/A ● Axial loading - direct force goes down spine (ie. diving + landing on head) “compression injury” ● Subluxation - PT hyperflexes/extends (ie. MVA CSpine can dislocate + hit spinal cord ● Ditraction - from hanging, cervical spine stops while body continues down ● Hyperflexion - c-spine pushed forward, dislocation can be caused ● Hyperextension - “whiplash”, MVA (rear end), roller coasters ● Babinski Sign - positive indicates spinal cord injury ○ Use pen, start at heel and go laterally to great toe ○ Positive - toes “fan out” ○ Negative - toes curl in ○ N/A in children under 2 years old ● Spinal Shock - period of paralysis/flaccid that lasts up to 24 hours, then returns ● Neurogenic Shock - results from damage to spinal cord which leads to loss of sympathetic nervous response, which will result in BP ↓, HR ↓, overall vasodilation
● Peripheral thermoreceptors - on skin/mucous membranes, both cool + warm receptors ● Hyperthermia - too hot of an environment or exercising in hot environment ○ Heat Cramps - aect tired muscles, alert with hot/sweaty skin, HR ↑, normal BP, muscle cramps ○ Heat Exhaustion - more severe, dizzy, nausea, headache, core temp to 103°F, near syncope, orthostatic hypotension BP ↓ when standing) ○ Heat Stroke - core temp 105°F +, damage to tissues, ‘total body collapse’ ■ Classic - eects very young and old ■ Exertional - eects athletes in hot conditions ○ S/S fainting, ALOC, seizures after fainting, HR ↑, BP ↓ ○ TREATMENT get to cool environment (ice packs neck, groin, under arms), replace sodium/water or IV dip, check blood glucose levels ● Hypothermia - Core body temp below 95°F ○ Mild - 93°-95°, goal is to get to warm environment, remove wet clothes, dry blankets, lethargic, tired, ‘dulled’ mentally, A+O ○ Moderate - 86°-93°, ALOC + confused, can’t shiverTRY NOT TO MOVE PT ○ Severe - <86°, found unconscious + unresponsive, move GENTLY, CPR + defib, may appear dead but aempt resuscitation,NEVER DEAD UNTIL WARM AND DEAD ● Drowning
● Signs - objective findings, you can observe/measure (ie. JVD ● Symptoms - subjective, what the pt tells you (ie. cramp)
. PRIMARY ASSESSMENT. remember 123 ABC GO 1. General impression → What does my pt look like? 2. Level of consciousness → AVPU + person/place/time/event 3. Chief complaint/life threats A. Airway → Is the airway patent? ○ If pt can speak/cry, airway is patent ○ Some pt (unresponsive) need head tilt-chin lift (medical) or jaw thrust (trauma) ○ Suction/remove obstructions ○ Adjunct OPA or NPA ○ Ventilate/ O2 treatment as needed BVM ○ S/S: stridor, snoring, bubbling, obstruction, gurgling shallow/absent respirations ○ Remember, ‘OPEN, CLEAR, KEEP’ B. Breathing → Is it normal or not? ○ Respiratory rate RR / SPO 2 / Words per sentence / Labored? / Position / Chest rise fall ○ When to ventilate: slow/shallow respirations, signs of distress/failure C. Circulation → Bleeding and condition ○ Skin color? jaundice = yellow (liver) cyanotic = blue (hypoxic) ○ Skin temp? ○ Skin moisture? ○ Capillary refill (should be 2 seconds) ✴ GO (transport decision)
● Onset: what were you doing? Sudden or gradual? ● Provocation: anything makes beer/worse? ● Quality: what’s it feel like? ● Region/radiation: where is pain? Does it move ● Severity: scale 0 10 ● Timing: how long? Goen beer/worse?
● Signs/Symptoms ● Allergies ● Medications ● Pertinent med history ● Last oral intake ● Events leading up to call
Blood sugar: 70 120 mg/dl Pulse ox: 95 100%
● Alert: Patient is awake ● Verbal: Patient responds to verbal stimulus ● Pain: Patient responds to pain stimulus ● Unresponsive: Patient is unresponsive to stimulus
Alert/Oriented x ● Person: What’s your name? ● Place: Do you know where you are? ● Time: Who is the president? ● Event: What happened leading to this?
Eyes Spontaneous To speech To pain None
Mechanisms
● IV – intravenous * ● IO – intraosseous * ● IM – intramuscular ● PO – by mouth
● SA – subcutaneous ● TD – transcutaneous ● IN – intranasal * ● SL – sublingual *
● PR – per rectum * ● Inhalation *
9 Rights Of Drug Administration
Shock aka hypoperfusion
● What is perfusion? ○ Heart (pump) ○ O2 (lungs) ○ Container (vessels)
Stage 1 Compensated
Stage 2 Decompensated
Stage 3 Irreversible
● Body reacts to events ● HR↑ ● Vasoconstriction ● RR↑ ● Awake ● Cool skin ● Altered mental status ● “Crisis mode”
● Low systolic BP (undergo) ● BP↓ ● HR↑ worsens ● RR↑ worsens ● Slowed cap refill ● Cyanosis ● Cold extremities ● “System-failure”
● BP↓ severe ● Lethal EKG changes ● HR↓ ● “Arrest-coma”
Cardiogenic Shock
● When the ♥ fails as a pump ● Causes: MI, myocardial contusion (trauma related), pulmonary embolism ● TREATMENT O2, aspirin for MI
Obstructive shock
● When normal blood flow is obstructed ● Causes: cardiac tamponade, pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism
● TREATMENT O2, 3-sided for tension pneumo
Distributive shock
3 subtypes:
Hypovolemia
● Causes: severe blood or fluid loss ● TREATMENT O2 + stop bleeding
TREATMENT O2, supine, keep warm, rapid go!
● Communicable disease – can spread from person to person ● Epidemic – new cases of disease in area that exceeds what is considered ‘normal’ ● Pandemic – outbreak on global scale ● Causes: bacteria (ie. salmonella), virus (ie. influenza), fungi (ie. mold), protozoa (ie. amoebas), helminths (ie. worms)
Influenza “the flu”
● Very young, very old, chronic conditions most aected ● Transmied by nasal secretions/droplets in air (cough/sneeze) ● S/S: fever, chills, cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting (N/V) shortness of breath, resp/cardiac conditions
Covid-19 “Corona”
● Wide range of symptoms/outcomes ● Family of common cold viruses ● Very old/those w chronic illness (diabetes, resp. cardiac conditions) more at risk ● S/S: Fever, chills, cough, fatigue, muscle/body aches, sore throat, headache, loss of taste/smell, N/V short of breath, chest pain, confusion, cyanosis
Pertussis“whooping cough”
● Airborne disease ● Usually 6> years old from bacteria