When a patient falls, it is a serious event. Whether the patient falls from bed or falls elsewhere in the hospital, be mindful of the following two questions after the fall: Is the patient injured? And, what was the cause…
Abnormalities of heart rate (HR) and rhythm include both harmless and potentially life-threatening processes. Rate and rhythm disturbances include bradycardias, tachycardias, and irregular rhythms. Bradycardias are rhythms resulting in a ventricular rate of less than 60 beats Tachycardias are defined…
Reactions to medications may be wide ranging, from complaints of bad aftertaste to more serious problems with allergic reactions and anaphylaxis. Most calls will encompass three major groups of symptoms: rashes, anaphylaxis, or other complaints of patient intolerance. All drugs…
Chest pain is one of the most concerning calls you will receive. Chest pain may represent a nonserious problem such as heartburn or a life-threatening problem such as acute myocardial infarction (MI). To best handle chest pain calls, approach it…
Phone calls regarding your patients’ bowel functions will be frequent; fortunately, many of these problems can be managed over the phone. Patients may have changes in bowel function while hospitalized because of dietary changes, less mobility, narcotic analgesics, and other…
One of the most common calls, abdominal pain, is also one of the most difficult to evaluate. Whole textbooks have been written on the approach to abdominal pain in surgical patients. This chapter is not meant to replace those books,…
You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here
You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here
You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here
Why write a book on surgical on-call problems? All surgical training programs require time spent “on call.” This is the time, usually overnight or on weekends, during which a physician is responsible for the care of hospitalized patients. It is…