This extremely popular title has become the definitive pocket guide to the management of medical emergencies for front-line hospital doctors. It provides detailed guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of all common conditions and includes a step-by-step guide to the nine most important practical procedures in acute medicine.
Table of Contents:
Preface ix
Acknowledgments x
Section 1: Common presentations
1 The critically ill patient: assessment and stabilization 3
2 Cardiac arrest 13
3 Cardiac arrhythmias: general approach 18
4 Broad complex regular tachycardia 21
5 Broad complex irregular tachycardia 27
6 Narrow complex tachycardia 33
7 Atrial fibrillation and fl utter 42
8 Bradycardia and atrioventricular block 47
9 Hypotension 53
10 Sepsis and septic shock 59
11 Poisoning: general approach 66
12 Poisoning with aspirin paracetamol and carbon monoxide 75
13 Acute chest pain 82
14 Acute breathlessness 91
15 Arterial blood gases oxygen saturation and oxygen therapy 98
16 Respiratory failure 104
17 Acid–base disorders 110
18 The unconscious patient 117
19 Transient loss of consciousness 124
20 Acute confusional state 133
21 Falls and ‘off legs’ 137
22 Acute headache 140
23 Acute vomiting 147
24 Acute abdominal pain 151
Section 2: Specific problems Cardiovascular
25 Acute coronary syndromes with persisting ST elevation or new left bundle branch block 158
26 Acute coronary syndromes without persisting ST elevation 169
27 Cardiogenic shock 174
28 Aortic dissection 181
29 Acute pulmonary edema 185
30 Cardiac valve disease and prosthetic heart valves 194
31 Infective endocarditis 203
32 Acute pericarditis 212
33 Cardiac tamponade 216
34 Severe hypertension 219
35 Deep vein thrombosis 224
36 Pulmonary embolism 231
37 Problems with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defi brillators 236
Respiratory
38 Airway management and upper airway obstruction 245
39 Acute asthma 253
40 Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 261
41 Pneumonia (1): community-acquired pneumonia 268
42 Pneumonia (2): hospital-acquired pneumonia 277
43 Pneumothorax 280
44 Pleural effusion 283
45 Hemoptysis 288
Neurological
46 Examination of the nervous system in acute medicine 293
47 Stroke 303
48 Transient ischemic attack 315
49 Subarachnoid hemorrhage 321
50 Bacterial meningitis 327
51 Encephalitis 334
52 Spinal cord compression 339
53 Guillain–Barré syndrome 342
54 Epilepsy (1): generalized convulsive status epileticus 349
55 Epilepsy (2): management after a generalized fi t 355
56 Raised intracranial pressure 360
Gastrointestinal/liver/renal
57 Acute upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage 365
58 Esophageal rupture 373
59 Acute diarrhea 376
60 Acute jaundice 383
61 Ascites 388
62 Acute liver failure 394
63 Alcoholic hepatitis 404
64 Biliary tract disorders and acute pancreatitis 406
65 Acute renal failure 410
Endocrine/metabolic
66 Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemic states 423
67 Diabetic ketoacidosis 429
68 Hyperosmolar non-ketotic hyperglycemia 436
69 Sodium disorders 439
70 Potassium disorders 446
71 Calcium disorders 451
72 Acute adrenal insuffi ciency 457
73 Thyroid emergencies 462
Dermatology/rheumatology
74 Cellulitis 469
75 Acute arthritis 473
76 Acute vasculitis 478
Hematology/oncology
77 Interpretation of full blood count 489
78 Bleeding disorders and thrombocytopenia 500
79 Management of anticoagulation 507
80 Sickle cell crisis 514
81 Anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock 519
82 Complications of cancer 523
Miscellaneous
83 Acute medical problems in the HIV-positive patient 535
84 Fever on return from abroad 542
85 Acute medical problems in pregnancy and peripartum 551
86 Psychiatric problems in acute medicine 555
87 Alchohol-related problems in acute medicine 561
88 Hypothermia 566
89 Drowning and electrical injury 571
90 Palliative care 578
Section 3: Procedures in acute medicine
91 Arterial blood gas sampling 587
92 Central vein cannulation 589
93 Temporary cardiac pacing 600
94 Pericardial aspiration 609
95 DC cardioversion 614
96 Insertion of a chest drain 619
97 Lumbar puncture 627
98 Aspiration of a knee joint 635
99 Insertion of a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube 638
Index 643
About the Author :
David C. Sprigings, Consultant Physician, Northampton General Hospital, UK
John B. Chambers, Reader, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Hospitals, London, UK and Consultant Cardiologist, Maidstone Hospital, Kent, UK
Review :
"This book makes an excellent companion for the junior doctor in the Emergency Department or the Admissions Unit.... [It Provides] the essentials in an easy to use format and comes highly recommended as an at-your-fingertips companion." (Acute Medicine Journal, December 2008) “It is a handy book, especially for doctors in training who need immediate help in managing a medical emergency. I can recommend it without hesitation.” (Hospital Doctor)
"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)
