Life threatening conditions

By
Imran Yousafzai
Lecturer KMU
 ASSESS AND INTERVENE
• For the patient with an emergent or urgent health
problem, stabilization, provision of critical
treatments, and prompt transfer to the appropriate
setting (intensive care unit, operating room, general
care unit) are the priorities of emergency care.
Although treatment is initiated in the ED, ongoing
definitive treatment of the underlying problem is
provided in other settings, and the sooner the
patient is stabilized and moved to that area, the
better.
• A systematic approach to effectively
establishing and treating health priorities is
the primary survey/secondary survey
approach.
• The primary survey focuses on stabilizing life-
threatening conditions. The ED staff work
collaboratively and follow the ABCD (airway,
breathing, circulation, disability) method:
• Establish a patent airway.
• Provide adequate ventilation, employing
resuscitation measures when necessary.
(Trauma patients must have the cervicalspine
protected and chest injuries assessed first.)
• Evaluate and restore cardiac output by
controlling hemorrhage, preventing and
treating shock, and maintaining or restoring
effective circulation.
• Determine neurologic disability by assessing neurologic
function using the Glasgow Coma Scale .
• A complete health history and head-to-toe assessment
• Diagnostic and laboratory testing
• Insertion or application of monitoring devices such as
electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes, arterial lines, or urinary
• Catheters
• Splinting of suspected fractures
• Cleaning and dressing of wounds
• Performance of other necessary interventions based on the
individual patient’s condition
• Airway Obstruction
• Hemorrhage
• Wounds
• Trauma
• FRACTURES
• HEAT STROKE
• FROSTBITE
• HYPOTHERMIA
• NEAR-DROWNING
• ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION