Presenting Complaints Physical Examination Is the patient in obvious respiratory distress? Is there cyanosis? Is there wasting? Does the patient use pursed lips when breathing? Is the patient on oxygen/nebulizer/inhaler/drip? Does the patient have pallor/cyanosis? General Inspection Look for a…
Presenting complaints Physical Examination Introduce yourself, obtain consent to examine and position the patient recumbent at 45 degrees. Expose to the waist and explain what you’re doing. Inspection General inspection Is the patient in pain or respiratory distress? Assess their…
Viral hepatitis is a viral infection of the liver. It is most commonly caused by the hepatitis virus, but other viruses e.g. CMV, EBV and Yellow Fever can cause hepatitis. There are 5 types of hepatitis virus: Hepatitis A Virus…
Hypothermia Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of less than 36 degrees Celsius. Core body temperature can be measured in the nasopharynx, distal esophagus, tympanic membrane, and pulmonary artery. Skin is generally much cooler than core temperature. Mechanisms…
Overview Post-operative Nausea and Vomiting is the leading cause of delayed discharge from PACU. Current recommendations are at least 2 prophylactic drugs for patients with at least 1 risk factor for PONV. Combinations should be with drugs that have a…
Overview Blood pressure represents the force exerted by the circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels. It is determined by cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR). (MAP – SVR) = HR X SVR CO = HR X…
Massive Transfusion Massive transfusion is defined as the administration of greater than 1 total blood volume (10 – 20 units of blood) in 24 hours or replacing 1/2 of the blood volume in < 1 hour *(*about 5 – 10…
Pre-Transfusion Testing Group and Screen (Type and Screen) Antigens that are not present in screened cells are unlikely to cause significant hemolytic reactions (0.2% risk of transfusion reaction if only type and screen is done). They can be safely transfused…