Pitting Oedema
Heart Failure
Introduction Heart failure (also CCF - congestive cardiac failure) is a clinical syndrome which refers to a state of reduced cardiac output. Typically it is defined as: The inability of the heart…
The Safe Triangle for chest drain insertion
Inserting a Chest Drain
The Safe Triangle The safe triangle is an anatomical space created by: Mid-axillary line / boarder of latissimus dorsi Lateral boarder of pec major Imaginary horizontal line from the nipple…
A selection of spinal needles. Not the main needle pictures does not come with a stylet
Lumbar Puncture (LP)
Lumbar puncture is a procedure conducted to ascertain if there is an acute meningitis or sub arachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), to detect inflammation in the spinal cord (e.g. in multiple sclerosis)…
Management of the acutely unwell patient
Management of the Acutely Ill Patient
Introduction Ok, so here’s the scenario. You are an FY1. It’s your first on call shift. It’s the middle of the night. A nurse bleeps you and says… ‘My patient’s…
Example of a petechial rash
Meningitis
Definitions Meningitis – the term meningitis technically means inflammation of the meninges, though it is generally used to mean infection. Meningitis is far more common in infants and children than…
ECG showing Inferior STEMI
Myocardial Infarction and Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS)
Introduction Acute Coronary Syndrome is an umbrella term for a spectrum of disease caused by ischaemia (and in some cases infarction) of myocardium (loss of blood supply to heart muscle). It…
Image from: Atlantic Training and link that text to http://www.atlantictraining.com/shop/c-drugs-and-alcohol-99-1.html
Overdose – Common Drugs and Antidotes
Drug Antidote Amitriptyline Sodium Bicarbonate Beta-blockers Glucagon Benzodiazepines Flumazenil Bupivicaine Intralipid Cyanide Hydroxocobalamin / Nitrites (inhaled) Digoxin Digoxin Antibodies Heparin Protamine Hydrofluoric Acid Calcium Iron Desferrioxamine Methanol Ethanol Methaemoglobin Methyline…
A vial of Morphine
Overdose and Poisoning
Opiates Naloxone will reverse the effect of opiate overdose, typically in the presence of CNS and respiratory depression. It competitively binds opioid receptors, causing a blockade Usually given IV for…
Pneumonia (Adults)
This article describes adult respiratory tract infection. For more information, please see paediatric respiratory infections Introduction Pneumonia is a common lower respiratory tract infection, characterised by inflammation of the lung…
Pneumothorax. Image from Wikimedia Commons. Author: BruceBlaus
Pneumothorax
Introduction A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space - between the lung and the chest wall. They can be: Primary – no underlying lung disease. Secondary…