Clinical Management Template
Basic template for answering FCICM exam questions on 'clinical management'; may or may not include assessment depending on need to confirm the diagnosis; remember to address the condition, the cause and the complications
Category CCC
The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.
Warming blanket
Warming blanket; May be indicated if temperature <35°C; warmed air is blown over the patient allowing safe and effective heat distribution
Urinary catheter (IDC or Foley)
OVERVIEW urinary catheter aka Foley catheter aka IDC or indwelling catheter INDICATIONS Bladder insertion urinary retention urine output measurement clot retention and bladder irrigation bed bound or comatose patients post-operative e.g. prostate surgery therapeutic, e.g. clot removal urinary incontinence urine…
Calcium as an Inopressor
Calcium has inotropic and vasopressor effects; direct relationship between ionized calcium levels in the blood and arterial pressure has been found in the critically ill
Potassium
Potassium is the major intracellular cation (sodium is major extracellular). 90% is exchangeable, with an inverse relationship to serum pH
Portal vein thrombosis
Portal vein thrombosis: thrombus formation in the portal vein +/- tributaries (superior mesenteric vein, IMV and splenic vein)
Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis
Stress ulcers are gastric mucosal erosions that can develop in patients with a serious illness or severe injury. The primary goal of therapy related to stress ulcer is to prevent clinically important bleeding
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis: often occurs in patients with severe hepatic dysfunction -> should lead to transplantation consideration if appropriate
Portal Hypertension
Portal Hypertension = increased resistance to flow through liver -> shunted around the other collateral vascular beds; the most common complication of cirrhotic liver disease
Flexible bronchoscope
Flexible bronchoscope may be fibre optic, video or hybrid systems; diagnose diseases of the tracheobronchial tree (e.g. burns, tumours); obtain lung samples
Hypokalaemic Periodic Paralysis
Hypokalaemic Periodic Paralysis; rare channelopathy; muscle weakness/paralysis with a matching fall in K+ levels; starts in adolescence; weakness may be mild -> full body paralysis
Weakness Hot Case
GENERAL APPROACH Unilateral or bilateral weakness Upper vs Lower motor neuron lesion Brain Spinal cord Peripheral nerves NMJ Muscles INTRODUCTION CUBICLE wheelchair walking aids hand weights INFUSIONS IVIG (GB, MG, vasculitis) VENTILATOR high level of pressure support (global weakness) PEEP…