3 primary survey and the abcde approach

3 Primary Survey & The ABCDE Approach
CNS depression:

- Head injury and intracerebral disease

- Hypercarbia

- Metabolic disorders (hypoglycaemia in diabetic pts)

- Drugs (alcohol, opioids and general anaesthetic)



Airway: Recognition of Airway Obstruction - Partial obstruction, Noisy breathing

- Stridor (narrowing)

- Gurgling (some form of liquid)

- Snoring (tongue)



Complete obstruction

- Silence



?Talking/not talking/change in voice



Signs of choking/distress



See-saw respiratory pattern, accessory muscles (stomach/chest moving but not breathing any
air)



Airway: Treatment of Airway Obstruction - - LOOK before opening (can open mouth, not airway
to avoid head tilting)

- CLEAR: suction or postural drainage (using gravity by positioning body to drain blockage, like
tilting pt head to a side)

- OPEN: head tilt/chin lift, jaw thrust

, - OXYGEN: 15 lpm, non-rebreather mask, BVM

- MAINTAIN: oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal airway




ACVPU - Alert

Confusion (new)

Verbal

Pain

Unresponsive



Airway: Causes of airway obstruction - Blockage in airway:

- Tongue

- Blood

- Secretions

- Vomit

- Foreign body (dislodged tooth, food)

- Blocked tracheostomy)



Narrowing of airway:

- Laryngospasm

- Bronchospasm



Infection and Oedema:

- Direct trauma to face or throat

- Epiglottitis

- Pharyngeal swelling