Finger Thoracostomy: Any pneumothorax in a patient undergoing positive pressure ventilation; Actual or near traumatic cardiac arrest; Shocked state with no apparent cause; Pleural drainage is not indicated in drowning or hangings unless pneumothorax is diagnosed. Remember pleural decompression will reduce the efficiency of the ACD and impedance valve
Previously known by various names including "universal precautions", standard precautions are designed to reduce the risk of microorganism transfer from both recognised and unrecognised sources to a susceptible host.
Standard precautions are work practices that provide a first-line approach to infection prevention in the healthcare environment.
Pleural Tap: Thoracocentesis; Diagnostic - determine the cause of pleural effusion. Therapeutic - remove excess pleural fluid to assist respiration and provide symptomatic relief.
Indications Contraindications: Choose the correct catheter Handy Hints: References and Links
Approach to percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) procedure
Deciding what to carry in your medical kit on an expedition is hard. You don’t want to leave anything out, but you can’t carry an entire hospital on your back. I mean, the wheels on the slit lamp really suck…
Following on from Bone and Joint Bamboozler 006 we outline a simple method for trephination (drainage) of the subungual haematoma
There’s a torso at the front of the queue. Towards the back of the line, patiently waiting their turn, are several uniformed staff-members. Some of them are cracking their knuckles. They mean business. Well one doesn’t, but he’s a first…