Tachyarrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms with a pulse rate of >100 beats per minute (bpm). This can be due to a variety of causes, including physiological and pathological, and is a commonly encountered issue whilst on the wards – a patient’s heart rate contributes to their NEWS score (National Early Warning Score) and thus may
Cortisol is the body’s natural steroid (glucocorticoid) which helps maintain blood pressure, blood glucose, sodium balance and suppress inflammation. It is a critical hormone which if not replaced when needed could result in life-threatening adrenal crisis. In this article, we discuss diagnosis, emergency management and discuss steroid-induced adrenal suppression.
In this article, we give an overview of the most important and serious haematological emergencies that junior doctors should know about! Neutropenic sepsis Case 1: 54-year-old woman Recent new diagnosis of a high-grade lymphoma Received R-CHOP chemotherapy 7 days ago Presents to ED with a fever of 38c What could be going on here? What
Bradyarrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms with a pulse rate of <60 beats per minute (bpm). This can be due to a variety of causes, including sinus node disease, atrioventricular disease, or toxins. Although the definition of bradyarrhythmia (brady- = slow, arrhythmia = abnormal rhythm) is defined as a heart rate (HR) <60bpm, many patients remain
Management of low blood sugar in conscious & unconscious patients, finding common causes, adjusting medications & when to refer.
This article aims to give basic information on the assessment of dental trauma to enable the reader to both recognise and communicate injuries correctly with the appropriate speciality. Do not forget assessment for other injuries, especially the face, head and neck, brain, and C-spine. Dental trauma can have life-changing physical and psycho-social consequences, appropriate early
A pneumothorax is defined as the abnormal collection of air between the visceral and parietal space of the lung i.e. the pleural space. It typically presents with acute shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain and is more common in those with damaged or stretched lungs. Despite clear cut guidelines from BTS, real-life management varies considerably
Acute Compartment Syndrome is one of the few orthopaedic emergencies. If missed, it can lead to severe and life-changing consequences for the patient. This article will focus on acute compartment syndrome of the limbs. What is compartment syndrome? Let’s start by understanding a couple key principles and definitions. A compartment is a group of muscles
A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blocked blood vessel in your lungs, most often due to a blood clot. It is common and can be asymptomatic but can be life-threatening if the clot is large and near the centre of the lung. With a massive PE immediate management is necessary. Causes A common cause of
Sickle cell diseases are a disorder of haemoglobin affecting red blood cells. This autosomal recessive, single gene defect results in the formation of HbS (sickle cell haemoglobin). Types of Sickle Cell Disorders Sickle cell trait: heterozygous (AS) which is typically asymptomatic & usually not life-limiting Sickle cell anaemia: homozygous (SS) which leads to many complications
