When patients present with functional symptoms. It can be difficult to discern whether if it is an actual or functional weakness. And it can be even more difficult to convince the patient. However these tests can not only help you workout what is happening, but also demonstrate function to the patient. Read more
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Epistaxis – Management
Nose bleeds are a bloody common problem (bad pun intended) – most originating at the front to the nose where there is a cluster of blood vessels – Little’s Area.
In the young the bleeding often starts after trauma (e.g. picking or punching noses). In the elderly however, it is commonly a manifestation of underlying vascular disease. Read more
Pneumonia (Community Acquired)
Severe Pneumonia: Please Request/Send – Samples Sputum/Blood/Urine
BTS Definition of CAP
Signs of acute Lower Respiratory Tract illness (LRTI) [Cough] &:
- ≥1 other LRTI Symptom [Pleuritic pain, Tachypnea, Dyspnea, etc]
- New Focal Chest Signs [Creps, Bronchial breathing, Red. A/E]
- ≥1 Systemic sign [Fever, Sweats, Chills, Rigors, >38oC]
- New CXR changes [if hospitalized]
Chronic Pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis is a low grade inflammatory disease of the pancreas. It can occur after an attack of acute pancreatitis or can present on its own. Some patients are best under the Surgical team and some under Gastro/Medical teams Read more
Fascia Iliaca Block – FIB
Pneumothorax – BTS 2023
To drain or not to drain? – that is the question (Follow the BTS algorithm).This is not for Tension!
(All treatment options should be discussed with the patient to determine their main priority, with consideration for the least invasive option)
Are You CO Aware?
With the onset of colder weather, many households in the UK are turning on their heating for the first time in months. Heating appliances need chimneys and flues to work safely – and these can block up over the summer months. So autumn is traditionally the period when people get poisoned by carbon monoxide (although it can happen any time of the year!)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced when anything containing carbon burns or smoulders. For practical purposes, this means the burning of any kind of fuel, commonly:
- Gas
- Coal
- Wood/Paper/Card
- Oil/Petrol/Diesel – (All UK cars have a ‘catalytic converter’ in the exhaust system, which converts carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon Dioxide (CO2), which is less poisonous. However, these converters need to warmed up – a cold car produces fatal amounts of CO in the exhaust)
CO is very poisonous. Exposure to as little as 300 parts per million (that’s just 0.03%) can prove fatal.
Upper GI Bleed (UGIB)
Not normally difficult to spot, but look for it in unexplained anaemia, or collapse.
Questions
- Is it VARICEAL? Mortality 35%, so is an emergency whatever the GBS is.
- Non-Variceal what’s the GBS? will help guide treatment
Anyone being admitted should be brought to HRI
Emergency Endoscopy is arranged by Med Reg
Status Epilepticus – APLS 2021
APLS 2021 Status Epilepticus Guide
