Description
Are you a nurse, a physician's associate or a medical student in an acute or emergency unit?This is your indispensable primer of acute medical care – a pocket guide to caring for patients with acute medical conditions.This book will help you to- care for patients in the first critical 24 hours of admission- manage patients using the most up-to-date evidence based approach- understand the most common emergency medical conditions and their underlying disease mechanisms- handle the patient's assessment , understand the observations and manage their disease- easily obtain clear practical advice- know what to tell the patient and relatives using jargon-free language- access information on SARS, avian influenza and bio-terrorism This updated edition- contains improved sections on stroke care, diabetes and sepsis,- introduces the NEWS 2 observation chart- has revised its case histories in line with current practice This updated edition:contains improved sections on stroke care, diabetes and sepsis,introduces the NEWS 2 observation charthas revised its case histories in line with current practice
Table of Contents
Abbreviations- Introduction: Immediate assessment of the critically ill ABCDE: Immediate assessment and interventionEarly warning: Track and TriggerNational Early Warning ScoreCommunication – NEWS and SBAR- Cardiology Acute severe breathlessnessCardiac failureHeart muscle damageValvular diseaseRhythm disturbanceTypes of heart failureLeft heart failureRight heart failureCongestive cardiac failureRight heart failure and COPDDiastolic heart failureClinical features and management of cardiac failureAcute left ventricular failureAcute on chronic congestive cardiac failureIschaemic heart diseaseChest painAcute coronary syndromes, NSTEMIs and Unstable AnginaSudden cardiac deathAtrial fibrillation and arterial emboliCauses of atrial fibrillationImportance of atrial fibrillationComplications of atrial fibrillationDiagnosis of atrial fibrillationManagement of atrial fibrillationInfective endocarditisDrugs in the management of acute heart disease- Respiratory medicine The breathless patient: the general approachRespiratory failureType I and Type II respiratory failurePrinciples of treatmentAcute severe asthmaMechanismsAssessment of acute severe asthmaManagement of acute severe asthmaChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseMechanismsManagement of acute exacerbations of COPDNon-invasive ventilationPneumoniaAssessmentThe severity score in pneumonia: CURB-65Management of pneumoniaAntibioticsSpontaneous pneumothoraxNursing the patient with a chest drain- Acute neurological problems Ensuring the safety of the patientPrioritising the initial management: GCS and ABCDEManaging 'medical' and 'neurological' comaResponding to neurological deteriorationStroke and stroke-like emergenciesCerebral infarctionTransient ischaemic attacksIntracerebral haemorrhageSubarachnoid haemorrhageSubdural haemorrhageExtradural haemorrhageNursing the patient with a stroke: the first 24 hMeningococcal meningitisAcute severe headacheSubarachnoid haemorrhageLumbar punctureSudden loss of consciousness: faints and fitsThe basic mechanisms: syncopeThe basic mechanisms: epileptic seizuresPseudoseizures (non-epileptic seizures)Acute paralysis of the lower limbsSpinal cord compressionGuillain–Barré syndrome- Gastroenterology Nausea and vomiting underlying mechanismsNausea and vomiting in acute medical conditionsAcute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhageManagement of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhagePortal hypertension and the management of oesophageal varicesAcute liver failure and hepatic encephalopathyAcute jaundiceAcute abdominal painAcute diarrhoea: sources and coursesInfective diarrhoeaClostridium difficile diarrhoeaInfective diarrhoea versus acute ulcerative colitisMedical conditions presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms- Diabetic complications Diabetes on the Acute Medical Unit: the general approachNormal blood sugar control and the nature of diabetesAn overview of Type I and Type II diabetesAcute medical conditions associated with diabetesDiabetic renal diseaseDiabetic neuropathyCardiovascular diseaseCerebrovascular diseasePeripheral vascular diseaseBlood sugar control in adverse medical situationsVariable Rate Intravenous Insulin Infusion (VRIII) or GKIDIGAMI regimenDiabetic Keto Acidosis (DKA)Hyperosmolar non-ketotic diabetic coma (HONK)HypoglycaemiaInfective complications in diabetes: the acute diabetic foot- Thromboembolic disease Thrombosis and thromboembolisationMechanismsSuperficial thrombophlebitisDeep vein thrombosisPulmonary thromboembolismTests to identify thromboembolic diseaseManagement of pulmonary thromboembolismNursing the patient with a suspected DVTOther causes of a swollen painful legCellulitisNecrotising fasciitisManagement of a DVTAnticoagulation therapy- Deliberate self-harm, alcohol and substance abuse Deliberate self-harmGeneral principlesCare of the unconscious patient: ABCDEThe patient who ref
