Anesthesia Key

Inadequately treated small wounds cause much distress for patients, a lot of worry for doctors and a considerable amount of work for lawyers. Assessment of Wounds Certain features of a…

Over 5000 people die from traumatic brain injuries in England and Wales every year and over 1500 patients survive with severe brain damage. Most will have a severely reduced employment…

Suxamethonium may cause a dangerous rise in serum potassium in patients with burns. Give high-concentration oxygen Give nebulised salbutamol for wheezing Estimate arterial blood gases and carboxyhae­moglobin Beware of conventional…

Box 16.1 Causes of Collapse with Abdominal Pain Acute blood loss from the upper gastrointestinal tract (oesophageal varices and peptic ulceration) Perforation of a peptic ulcer, sigmoid diverticulum or the appendix…

In the UK, accidents cause almost 2% of all deaths and account for 7% of total NHS expenditure. The absolute number of accidental deaths is greatest in people aged 65…

Precipitant Delivery In the UK, most pregnant women have planned maternity care and so have made clear arrangements for the delivery of their baby. However, occasionally women arrive at the…

If blunt trauma results in injuries both above and below the trunk (e.g. to the head and femur), then the trunk itself is also likely to be injured. Bruises, clothing…

One person in seven has a diagnosable neurotic disorder, mainly depression and anxiety, and one person in 250 has a functional psychosis. Behaviour is influenced by the interplay between the…

Foreign body obstruction may initially present as a distressed, very agitated, cyanosed patient – ‘choking’. Cardiorespiratory arrest → p. 150. Choking → p. 196. Respiratory arrest → p. 199. If…

An elderly patient with a bruise on the forehead and weak arms should be assumed to have sustained a central cord injury (→ p. 53). The facial skeleton is designed…