ABG – Arterial Blood Gas – taking a sample
Overview An arterial blood gas sample is an important investgiation in the acutely unwell patient, particularly those with respiratory distress. Venous blood gas samples are increasingly used to assess the…
Overview An arterial blood gas sample is an important investgiation in the acutely unwell patient, particularly those with respiratory distress. Venous blood gas samples are increasingly used to assess the…
Airway management is an important skill in Emergency Medicine, Critical care (including Intensive care and High Dependency (HDU)) as well as in anaesthetics. Without a sufficient airway, a patient will…
Introduction Advanced Life Support is an international protocol used in life-threatening situations around cardiac arrest and peri-arrest. It is a continuation and extension of Basic Life Support (BLS). It is…
Introduction Basic Life Support (BLS) is an internationally recognised protocol designed to be taught to all hospital staff members and to members of the general public. The most recent guidelines were…
Procedure Find the patient. Check they are the right patient, and then tell them what you are going to do. i.e. ‘we would like to put a needle in you…
Indications Urinary retention Monitor fluid output (e.g. post-op, renal failure, trauma, sepsis, general illness) – in pretty much all seriously ill patients! – also pre-op to measure urine output during…
Introduction Cervical screening programmes have existed in many counties since the late 1980s. They have dramatically reduced the incidence of cervical cancer. In the mid 2000's, the advent of vaccines…
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…
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)…
Speak to the patient – do the usually introduction, consent, and explanation of the procedure. If they already have a cannula in: Check how long the cannula has been in…