Category: Resus

Necrotising Fasciitis

Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is a rare but serious bacterial infection that affects the soft tissue and fascia (Fournier gangrene, is NF affecting the perineum). In many cases NF progresses rapidly and early recognition and treatment is vital to halt progress. The mainstay of treatment is IV antibiotics and aggressive surgical debridement. Any delay increased the amount of tissue loss as well as the mortality. Read more

Swallowed Foriegn Body

The ingestion of a foreign body or multiple foreign bodies (FB) is a common presenting complaint in paediatric surgery, with a peak incidence from 12-24 months however, can occur at any age. Ingested foreign bodies rarely cause problems; almost 80% of patients pass the foreign body without intervention – in seven days2 (only 1% require surgical removal). However, occasionally foreign bodies can cause significant morbidity (for example, oesophageal rupture) and 1% require surgical removal.

The presenting symptoms and outcomes of an ingested foreign body is highly dependent on the swallowed object, and for this reason, the guidance for hazardous and non-hazardous foreign body ingestion has been divided accordingly.

Using the Metal Detector

Non-Hazardous Objects

Button Battery

Magnets

 

Sharp Objects

PDF copy – HERE

Silver Trauma

The population is ageing and thus our ‘typical’ trauma patient is also changing. In 2017 the TARN report “Major injury in older people” highlighted the following issues:

  • The typical major trauma patient: has changed from a young and male to being an older patient.
  • Older Major Trauma Patients (ISS>15): A fall of <2m is the commonest mechanism of injury
  • Triage/Recognition of ‘Silver Trauma’ is POOR
    • Pre-hospital: Not identified hence taken to TU’s (Here) not MTC’s (Leeds).
    • The ED: Often seen by Junior Staff and endure significant treatment delays.
    • Hospital: Much less likely to be transferred to specialist care.
    • Outcomes: More likely to die, but those who survive have similar levels of disability to younger people.

Read more

Hypothermic Arrest [Adult]

True Hypothermic Arrest is thankfully rare in the UK. However, when it does happen it is resource intense and prolonged. The ERC 2021 guidance has introduced a new decision step HOPE score to the algorithm, once the Initial phase of resuscitation has been completed without ROSC.

If the is HOPE score is <0.1  the team may which to consider terminating CPR [Warning: Adults ONLY Children have better survival] Read more

Myocardial Infarction (MI) – PPCI/Thrombolysis

PPCI (Leeds PPCI Pathway)

  • Target: Door to balloon 90min
  • Criteria:
    • Time: Chest pain within 12hrs (or worsened within 12hrs)
    • ECG:  ST elevation MI (1mm Limb or 2mm Chest leads) OR New LBBB. (Posterior MI do posterior leads and discuss with LGI)
  • Actions:
    • Resuscitate
    • Contact PPCI team @ LGI (Mobile No. up in Resus)
    • Arrange blue light (P1) ambulance to LGI
    • Prasagrel 60mg if no previous CVA or Ticagrelor 180mg if previous CVA and Aspirin 300mg (if anti-coagulated Discuss with PCI team)
  • Problems: 
    • Intubated patient: Often LGI would accept but need to arrange Cardiac ICU. If no bed patient could go for PCI to return locally immediately after PCI to our ICU’S?
    • LGI Full: Occasionally the cath lab is full and can’t accept your patient
      • Calling Manchester and Sheffield: It’s worth a go but they don’t have agreements with us  so having your patient accepted can be difficult
      • Don’t Forget Thrombolyisis: We need to open up the patients artery, if there is no quick decision to go for PPCI – Consider Thrombolysis

Read more

Post ROSC CT Protocol

Within ED we often have little information about the patient we are resuscitating. Post-ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation )we commonly perform CT head, but evidence and Resus Council Guidance suggests extending this scan can pick up important pathology that can otherwise be missed (13%).

Read more

Neuro-Obs

Neurological Observations MUST include the following:

  • A full set of NEWS2 observations
  • ACVPU assessment (alert, new confusion, voice, pain, unresponsive)
  • GCS (Glasgow coma scale)
  • Pupillary responses
  • Assessment of Limb power

Head Injury – Level 1

Head injury is witnessed, reported, suspected, or cannot be excluded.

  • There is any new onset of neurological symptoms or deterioration.
  • The patient complains of pain / tenderness to the head
  • Extra consideration should be given to patients currently prescribed anticoagulant medication at the time of the fall.

Post fall Neurological Observations must be completed for at least 12 hours and at the above intervals as a minimum:

During this time If there is any deterioration in the patient’s condition including level of consciousness, pupil reaction, limb power, cardiovascular observation you must revert to ½ hourly neurological observation and seek URGENT medical review.

Patients should be reviewed if no change in condition at 12 hours to ascertain if neurological observations are still indicated – this decision must be documented in the medical notes.

Under no circumstances should Neurological observations be omitted because the patient is asleep

Head Injury – Level 2

Admitted with Head Injury

  • With a sudden deterioration in their level of consciousness
  • Who are unconscious on arrival to hospital
  • Post first seizure

During this time If there is any deterioration in the patient’s condition, including level of consciousness, pupil reaction, limb power or cardiovascular observation you must revert to ½ hourly neurological observations and seek URGENT medical review. Patients should be reviewed if no change in condition at 12 hours to ascertain if neurological observations are still indicated – this decision must be documented in the medical notes.

Under no circumstances should Neurological observations be omitted because the patient is asleep.

Intracerebral/Subarachnoid Haemorrhage OR Stroke
  • Acute Primary Intracerebral/Subarachnoid  haemorrhage
  • Any other Ischaemic stroke 
  • Post Thrombolysis /Thrombectomy for Stroke patients only

During this time If there is any deterioration in the patient’s condition, including level of consciousness, pupil reaction, limb power or cardiovascular observation you must seek URGENT medical review and revert to ½ hourly neurological observations as a minimum, or ¼ hourly, if still within the first 2 hours post thrombolysis.

Under no circumstances should Neurological observations be omitted because the patient is asleep.