Rapid Sequence Induction
Introduction The aim is to rapidly achieve intubating conditions whilst minimising the risk of aspiration to the patient. No current drugs allow the effects to wear off quick enough to… Read more »
Tracheal Intubation
Introduction Intubation is considered the gold-standard of ‘securing the airway’ by passing a tracheal tube usually via the mouth but sometimes via the nose. Other options need to be considered… Read more »
Airway Threat
Introduction Airway obstruction can occur suddenly or insidiously. Prompt identification and management usually averts disaster. It is important to closely evaluate at-risk patients. An alert patient with any degree of… Read more »
Thinking Fast, Thinking Slow
At the recent International Conference of Emergency Medicine 2012 in Dublin, one of the keynote speakers was a leading expert in the role of cognitive bias in medical decision making. … Read more »
Red Flags
Introduction The term ‘red flag’ is a particular feature which suggests a potentially serious or life-threatening condition It can be applied to both diagnosed conditions e.g. Rising pCO2 in acute asthma… Read more »
Chronology of Disease – Illustrated
Introduction A fundamental mistake of students and junior doctors is to create a differential diagnosis without taking a careful history of the chronology of the history of the presenting complaint… Read more »
About Me
I am an Australian Emergency Physician working in a busy Tertiary Hospital in South Australia. I qualified as a Consultant in 2003 and have an interest in evidence-based Medical Education. … Read more »
Intracranial Bleeding – Pathology
Introduction Intracranial bleeding can be traumatic or non-traumatic. In some situations the trauma can be relatively minor e.g. chronic sub-dural haematoma. Some lesions can occur in either e.g. subarachnoid haemaorrhage,… Read more »
Resuscitation – The ABCDE
Things that kill quickly and are the first priorities in management of any condition A – Airway Obstruction B – Breathing Failure C – Circulatory Shock D – Neurological… Read more »
Raised Intracranial Pressure
Introduction: Uncontrolled sustained or rapid rises in intracranial pressure eventually lead to brainstem herniation and ischaemia resulting in cardio-respiratory collapse and brain death. It is a one of the major… Read more »