Author: embeds
Quick-Wee method
Have you ever wanted an infant to PU faster?
Gentle suprapubic cutaneous stimulation with gauze soaked in cold fluid (the Quick-Wee method) led to a clinically and statistically significant increase in voiding and successful urine collection within five minutes for infants aged 1-12 months
An ideal job to be given to parents/carers
Anion Gap & Metabolic Acidosis
The anion gap (AG) represents the amount of unmeasured anions in the plasma.
AG =([Na]+[K]) – ([HCO3]+[Cl])
The main contributor to the AG is albumin (decreasing albumin by 1g/l reduces the AG by 0.25) so hypoalbuminaemia can falsely reduce the AG.
Corrected AG = AG + (0.25*(40-[albumin]))
(However, this relies on getting LFT’s back about 1 hour) Read more
A-a gradient
A-a gradient = Alveolar Oxygen – arterial Oxygen
This is “relatively” simple way of working out if the paO2 on a ABG is normal, and demonstrates V/Q mismatch well. V/Q mismatch is simple terms is either an area of the lung either under ventilated(pneumonia) or under perfused (PE). Read more
Locum Induction
NEW locum staff we need to introduce them to our department and processes.
Complete & Sign – check list
Please familiaries yourself with the EMBeds page for ED Essentials for Newbies
Locum Doctor IT access
- Locum doctors to be assigned a unique log in by Flexible Workforce when booked for a shift.
- If the details are not communicated prior to starting the shift, this should be escalated to Flexible Workforce in hours, and the On Call IT team out of hours.
- Log in details can expire if they are not used frequently, in these instances the IT department can reactivate them.
- Locum logins should never be used due to issues with Information Governance.
Becky Isles
An ED and Pre-Hospital Consultant with a passion for learning, teaching and all things outdoors.
“There is no such thing as the wrong weather only the wrong clothes”
Journal Club – 5th March 2018
Thanks for the great turn out especially from ACP’s and Nurses (come on docs we are being out shone!!!) – and a really insightful look at the paper. Read more
COPD think VBG
Why VBG instead of ABG?
- Pain – we all know and warn our patients ABG’s are painful. Patients know it to and delay presentation.
- Number of bloods taken – patients attending with COPD will generally have venous bloods taken at triage. Would you want stabbing again if it could be avoided?
Why choose EM?
It’s a good question in today’s climate of increasing patient numbers and complexity. Specialities that offer you the illusion of more control can seem attractive. But Emergency Medicine picks you, and can offer an exciting and varied career. Read more
Huw Masson
An ED consultant and creative geek, who loves learnings, and using that knowledge practically, to make life easier and more fun.
“The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing.“ – Socrates
