This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Assessment and resuscitation

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Initial management should be observant of ABCDE:

  • Airway - if the patient is unconscious, clear any dentures, vomit or blood, using a gloved finger. Insert an oropharyngeal airway and administer oxygen

  • Breathing - if the patient is not breathing or has an absent gag reflex, pass a cuffed endotracheal tube. Listen for crackles - localised ones are suggestive of aspiration of vomit or other fluids; generalised, of pulmonary oedema. Note respiratory rate

  • Circulation - record pulse and blood pressure. If systolic blood pressure is low - less than 90 mm Hg in patients over 50 years of age, or less than 80 mm Hg in younger patients - urgent intervention is necessary. Raising the foot of the bed may be adequate. Otherwise, provide haemaccel as a plasma expander, provided that the jugular venous pressure is not markedly elevated. If blood pressure remains low in spite of the correction of hypovolaemia, consider an infusion of dobutamine and dopamine

Pass a urinary catheter to assess renal function. Set up an ECG. Correct any hypoxia, acidosis or hypothermia

  • Disability - use the Glasgow Coma Scale to provide rapid assessment of neurological function

  • Exposure - in an unconscious patient, look for evidence of recreational i.v. drug use

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.