What to do when you don’t know what to do… Christopher D Mills Medical and Intensive Care Registrar Monash Health
D Danger
D Danger Don’t Panic
R Response
D Response Reminisce
A Airway Maintained? Own? Tubed? Can I Fix This?
Signs of respiratory compromise? B Breathing Can they talk to me? Signs of respiratory compromise? RR? SaO2? Chest Examination? Blood Gases? CXR? CT Chest? Can I Fix This?
C Circulation Can I Fix This? Pulse? Blood Pressure? Rhythm? Rate? ECG? Cardiac Sounds? Can I Fix This?
DON’T EVER FORGET GLUCOSE! Disability GCS? Moving all 4 limbs? Coherent / Oriented? CT Brain? LP? DON’T EVER FORGET GLUCOSE! Can I Fix This?
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Electrolytes and Metabolic EUC? CMP? Can I Fix This?
F Fluid What? How much? Volume Status? Urine? Can I Fix This?
Abdominal Examination? G GIT Abdominal Examination? Surgery? Scars? Output? PR? CT Abdomen? LFT? Lactate? MOVE THE BED SHEETS! Can I Fix This?
H Hb / Clotting Can I Fix This? Hb? Platelets? INR / aPTT? D Dimer / Fibrinogen? Declotting Stuff? Can I Fix This?
I Infection IS THIS PERSON SEPTIC? Can I Fix This? Temperature? WCC? Ferritin? CRP? IS THIS PERSON SEPTIC? Can I Fix This?
J Juice (Drugs) Can I Fix This? Medications? Do I need anything now? What have we given? Can I Fix This?
Are they aware of what is going on? K (Next of) Kin Are they present? Are they aware of what is going on? Prognosis? Can I Fix This?
L Lines IF YOU CAN’T GET IT – ASK! Can I Fix This? What do I have? What do I need? IF YOU CAN’T GET IT – ASK! Can I Fix This?
Significant Injury (eg. NOF #) M Musculoskeletal Significant Injury (eg. NOF #) Bleeding into muscle? Can I Fix This?
Do they have a Toxidrome? N Narcotics / Toxins Have they had any? Do they have a Toxidrome? Have we checked? Can I Fix This?
Is there anything else unique to this patient that is important? Other Stuff Is there anything else unique to this patient that is important? Can I Fix This?
Will they have any with what I’m about to do? P Pain Do they have any? Will they have any with what I’m about to do? Can I Fix This?
Q Transfusion Have they had one? Do they need one? Can I Fix This?
Should we be doing what we are doing? Resus Status Documented? Should we be doing what we are doing? Can I Fix This?
Is there any other treatment? Skin and Wounds Documented? Is there any other treatment? Can I Fix This?
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