Synopses & Reviews
This is a truly practical guide aimed at the junior physician or casualty officer, which explains what to do when faced with medical emergencies "on take," on the ward or in the A & E department.
Section One describes the detailed management of common general presentations such as acute breathlessness, chest pain, loss of consciousness and cardiac arrest. Section Two covers specific diagnoses such as aortic dissection, thyrotoxic crisis, acute asthma, etc. These chapters are organized by body system, and each chapter is divided into "priorities," "problems" and "further management." Section Three covers the practical details of commonly used procedures such as lumbar puncture, insertion of a chest drain, peritoneal dialysis and central vein cannulation. The appendices consist of useful data such as drug doses.
In this new edition the chapters have been rewritten to make them more accessible and user-friendly. Some information in the previous edition has been reduced to make way for new chapters on: The critically ill patient, Acute diarrhoea, Acute abdominal pain, Electrolyte disorders, Acid-base disorders, Severe anaemia, Bleeding disorders and Management of anti-coagulation. The authors have included evidence for treatments where available and take account of existing guidelines.
Review
'This second edition of the practical guide to management of medical emergencies offers the busy doctor, in A & E or on the wards, immediate access to practical steps to copy with urgent medical problems...It is handy book, especially for doctors in training who need immediate help in managing a medical emergency. I can recommend it without hesitation.'
Hospital Doctor, 1995, on the second edition.
'This excellent little book was written for junior medical staff. However as a concise vade-mecum for the anaesthetist it would be extremely valuable.'
Anaethesia & Intensive Care, 1995, on the second edition.
Synopsis
The Third Edition of this hugely popular book continues to provide a practical guide to acute medicine for the junior physician and casualty officers. It offers detailed guidance on what to do when faced with medical emergencies 'on take', on the ward, or in the A&E Department, and includes a step-by-step guide to the nine most important practical procedures.
In this new edition, the authors have thoroughly revised all chapters in line with current evidence and guidelines, and have added new chapters on the critically ill patient, acute diarrhoea, abdominal pain, electrolyte imbalances and acid-base disorders. The layout has been improved to make key information even more accessible.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (496-507) and index.
Table of Contents
Preface to the third edition.
Acknowledgements.
Section 1: Common Presentations.
1. Cardiac arrest.
2. Cardiac arrhythmias.
3. Hypotension.
4. Acute chest pain.
5. Acute breathlessness.
6. The unconscious patient.
7. Transient loss of consciousness.
8. Acute confusional state.
9. Headache.
10. Sepsis syndrome.
11. Poisoning.
12. The critically ill patient.
.
Section 2: Specific Problems.
Cardiovascular.
13. Acute myocardial infarction.
14. Unstable angina.
15. Aortic dissection.
16. Severe hypertension.
17. Pulmonary oedema.
18. Pericarditis.
19. Cardiac tamponade.
20. Deep vein thrombosis.
21. Pulmonary embolism.
Respiratory.
22. Acute asthma.
23. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
24. Pneumonia.
25. Pneumothorax.
26. Haemoptysis.
Neurological.
27. Stroke.
28. Transient ischaemic attack.
29. Subarachnoid haemorrhage.
30. Bacterial meningitis.
31 Spinal cord compression.
32. Guillain-Barre syndrome.
33. Epilepsy.
Gastro-intestinal / Liver / Renal.
34. Acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
35. Acute diarrhoea.
36. Acute abdominal pain.
37. Acute liver failure.
38. Acute renal failure.
Endocrine / Metabolic.
39. Overview of diabetes.
40. Diabetic ketoacidosis.
41. Hyperosmolar non-ketotic hyperglycaemia.
42. Electrolyte disorders.
43. Acid-base disorders and arterial blood gases.
44. Acute adrenal insufficiency.
45. Thyrotoxic crisis.
46. Hypothermia and myxoedema coma.
Infectious diseases.
47. Acute medical problems in the patient with HIV/AIDS.
48. Septic arthritis.
49. Fever on return from abroad.
Haematological.
50. Management of anticoagulation.
51. Sickle cell disease.
52. Anaphylaxis.
.
Section 3: Procedures.
53. Central vein cannulation.
54. Pulmonary artery catheterisation.
55. Temporary cardiac pacing.
56. Pericardial aspiration.
57. DC cardioversion.
58. Insertion of a chest drain.
59. Lumbar puncture.
60. Peritoneal dialysis.
61. Insertion of a Sengstaken-Blakemore tube.
.
Appendices.
62. Drug infusions.
63. Respiratory function tests.
64. Peripheral nervous system.
.
Further Reading.
Index