Surgical Emphysema
APPROACH
- A – assess airway for patency and position, attach ETCO2, place suction catheter down tube/tracheostomy
- B – FiO2 1.0, place on bag-mask, examine chest for evidence of pneumothorax +/- tension -> decompress if indicated
- C – review haemodynamics
- call for urgent x-ray
- prepare for chest drain insertion
- consider a new ventilation strategy
Work out cause:
- Ventilation (barotrauma) – change mode and use a more lung protective strategy
- Tubes – new tracheostomy, new CVL
- Pneumothorax
Example posts:
- Surgical Emphysema Clinical case
- Top 100 Ultrasound – Case 066
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
| INTENSIVE | RAGE | Resuscitology | SMACC