Category: Uncategorized

Epistaxis – Management

Nose bleeds are a bloody common problem (bad pun intended) – most originating at the front to the nose where there is a cluster of blood vessels – Little’s Area.

In the young the bleeding often starts after trauma (e.g. picking or punching noses). In the elderly however, it is commonly a manifestation of underlying vascular disease. Read more

Influenza POCT (Adult)

Flu season has arrived, and we need to be thinking about who to test and who to treat. Full guide HERE But don’t forget MERS!!

Q1. Do you suspect Flu?

  • Fever
  • Coryza
  • Arthralgia and/or Myalgia
  • Malaise
  • GI symptoms – with or without signs of respiratory/other involvement e.g. CN

Yes! – Respiratory precautions

  • Isolated in a side room
  • Surgical face mask worn on entry to room + gloves and apron
  • FFP3 mask or hood worn for aerosol generating procedures
  • Bare below the elbow / good quality hand hygiene
  • Proceed to Q2

 

Read more

Head Injury

Background

  • Defined as any traumatic injury to the head other than superficial facial injuries.
  • The commonest cause of death and disability in people age 1-40 in the UK.
  • Account for 1.4 million ED attendances each year, 95% of these are minor head injuries that can be managed in the ED.

Read more

Coroners Referrals

The patients ED needs to report has changed…

The key change with the new guidance is that not all patients who die in the ED need to be reported to the coroner….

Provided that none of the other circumstances as detailed in the guidance note apply deaths within 24 hours of admission to Hospital or a Hospice do not need to be reported with respect to a death of a person over 18 years of age in the following circumstances:

  • A qualified medical practitioner certifies death is due to natural causes and
  • The family or other party do not raise any concerns

The full guidance is available – Guide to Reporting Deaths April19

If you need to report to coroner – Death in ED