Acute Medical Emergencies

This major text, based on the Advanced Life Support Group course, is a comprehensive and practical guide which deals with the medical aspects of diagnosis and treatment of acute emergencies. Its structured approach teaches the novice how to assess and recognise a patient in an acute condition, and how to interpret vital symptoms such as breathlessness and chest or abdominal pain. There are separate sections on interpretation of investigations, and procedures for managing the emergency. It covers procedures for acute emergencies occurring anywhere – on hospital wards or beyond. The clarity of the text, including simple line illustrations, ensure its tried and tested procedures provide clear, concise advice on recognition and management of medical emergencies.  CONTENTS PART I: INTRODUCTION. Chapter 1 Introduction. Chapter 2 Recognition of the medical emergency. PART II: STRUCTURED APPROACH. Chapter 3 A structured approach to medical emergencies. Chapter 4 Airway assessment. Chapter 5 Breathing assessment. Chapter 6 Circulation assessment. Chapter 7 Disability assessment. PART III: PRESENTING COMPLAINTS. Chapter 8 The patient with breathing difficulties. Chapter 9 The patient with shock. Chapter 10 The patient with chest pain. Chapter 11 The patient with altered conscious level. Chapter 12 The collapsed patient. Chapter 13 The overdose patient. Chapter 14 The patient with a headache. Chapter 15 The patient with abdominal pain. Chapter 16; The patient with hot red legs or cold white legs. Chapter 17 The patient with hot and/or swollen joints. Chapter 18 The patient with a rash. Chapter 19 Acute confusion. PART IV: FAILURES Chapter 20 Organ failure. PART V: SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES Chapter 21 The elderly patient. Chapter 22 Transportation of the seriously ill patient. Chapter 23 The pregnant patient. Chapter 24 The immuno-compromised patient. Chapter 25 The patient with spinal cord compression. PART VI: INTERPRETATION OF EMERGENCY INVESTIGATIONS. Chapter 26 Acid-base balance and blood gas analysis. Chapter 27 Dysrhythmia recognition. Chapter 28 Chest X-ray interpretation. Chapter 29 Haematological investigations. Chapter 30 Biochemical investigations. PART VII: PRACTICAL PROCEDURES. Chapter 31 Practical procedures: airway and breathing. Chapter 32 Practical procedures: circulation. Chapter 33 Practical procedures: medical. PART VIII: APPENDIX.