Urinalysis is the physical and chemical examination of a urine sample. It is a common procedure that can be done quickly and yields important clinical information. This article will teach you the three key steps to perform this procedure and interpret the results. This article includes a quick visual summary, a video demonstration, and a
A fascia iliaca block (FIB) is a regional anaesthetic technique where local anaesthetic is deposited beneath the fascia iliaca to block the femoral, lateral femoral cutaneous, and often obturator nerves. It is commonly used for analgesia in hip and proximal femur fractures, particularly neck of femur fractures. Approaches include the landmark (anatomical) technique, which will be
Intercostal chest drains (ICD) are used for therapeutic purposes to remove air and/or fluid from the pleural space (e.g. pneumothorax and haemothorax in trauma cases). ICD insertion is a complex procedure that should only be carried out by trained practitioners with skilled assistance, and trainees must perform it under supervision until competent. Contraindications Complications Complications include
A central line is a catheter placed into a major central vein, typically the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein, with the tip positioned in the superior or inferior vena cava. Types include central venous catheters, dialysis catheters, tunnelled lines (e.g., Hickman), and ports. Indications Contraindications Absolute contraindications include: Relative contraindications include: Complications Early complications:
A lumbar puncture involves the insertion of a needle between the lumbar vertebrae, at a level below the termination of the spinal cord, allowing for CSF collection from the subarachnoid space. Primarily performed as a diagnostic technique, the sampled CSF can be sent for biochemistry, cytology, and microbiology to aid identification of infections, subarachnoid haemorrhage and neurological
Wounds are a very common presentation to A&E and minor injuries departments. Wound management is very clinician dependent and there is a lot of variation in practice. It is important to be accurate when assessing and documenting wounds as it can have medico-legal implications, should your assessment later come up in a court case. Types
Sutures are placed to aid with wound healing following a traumatic laceration or surgical incision and to promote haemostasis. In this article, we will look at the different types of suture classifications, the indications for each type of suture and the common suturing techniques that are used. Alternative methods of tissue closure Steri-strips Often used
If the thought of conducting an intimate examination or attempting to wield (without any embarrassing pitfalls) the contraption that is the speculum is enough to fill you with apprehension- fear not! The good news is that resident doctors are not typically expected to perform speculum/bimanual examinations unless you are on an O&G or GP placement.
Being able to use an ophthalmoscope confidently is very important to resident doctors, especially when identifying eye emergencies. In this article, we will go through the steps of eye examination using an ophthalmoscope. When is ophthalmoscopy used? In clinical practice, ophthalmoscopy is commonly performed for posterior segment diseases affecting the vitreous, macula, retina or optic
Femoral puncture is typically used to acquire blood from a patient in an emergency setting as both the veins and arteries are large vessels. In profound hypotension, unlike the radial, the femoral artery remains palpable. In a cardiac arrest, good quality CPR should result in a palpable pulsation. Typically a venous sample is preferred as
