When Things Go Bump in the Night
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Transcript When Things Go Bump in the Night
When Things
Go Bump in the Night
Surviving Surgical Night Call
in the age of Cross-Cover
Robert O. Carpenter, MD, MPH
General Surgery Resident
General Tips
When in doubt, which should be often,
go see the patient!
When in doubt, which should be often,
call your upper level resident
Never transfuse, order expensive tests,
admit a patient, or transfer a patient to the
ICU without telling the resident & attending
If the ship is sinking--LOAD THE BOAT!
That’s right boys and girls … it
can be a tough world on call!
You 7/1/07
Topics
Abdominal Pain
Nausea/Vomiting
Constipation
Diarrhea
Bleeding
Hypotension
Hematemesis
Hematochezia
Post-op Pain
Abdominal Pain
Acute vs. chronic
If acute – always examine the patient
Multiple causes - need to rule out life
threatening ones
– Perforated viscous / dead bowel
– Ruptured aneurysm
Abdominal Pain
History
Physical exam
» Abdomen
» Lungs, rectal--guiac, hernias, testicles
» Pelvic exam in female
Labs—CBC, CMP, Amylase/Lipase, lactate
X-rays—CXR, KUB with flat/upright or
left lateral decubitus to rule out free air
Doh! Free Air!
Abdominal pain
CT scan if indicated—talk to attending first
– Consider contrast … PO, IV, BOTH?
Consider surgical consult early
Don’t forget chest etiology in upper
abdominal pain – pneumonia, cardiac
angina
Nausea & Vomiting
Causes: Systemic illness, CNS, GI diseases,
Medications, Viral Illness, Obstruction, Pregnancy
Don’t forget cardiac angina equivalent
Promethazine (Phenergan)
– Careful in elderly
» 12.5-25 mg po/iv q4-6 h prn
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
» 5-10 mg po/iv q3-4 h prn
Serotonin antagonists$$$ (Anzemet, Kytril,
Zofran)
No longer at VUMC!!!
Nausea & Vomiting (cont)
If does not resolve
– think of obstructive causes
Initial work up similar to abdominal pain
Limit oral intake
NGT / IVF if persistent …
– EARLY! Avoid aspiration!!!
Watch for electrolyte abnormalities
» Hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis
Then – Fall 2002
Constipation
Laxatives
– Biscodyl (Dulcolax)
» 5 mg po or 10 mg pr (suppository)
» Motility agent
– Docusate Sodium (Colace)
» 50-100 mg qd or bid
» Stool softener
» Prevention (narcotics)
Constipation (cont)
– Milk of Magnesia (MgOH)
» 30-60 ml po
» Osmotic
» Bean Alert
– Docusate/Casanthranol (Peri-Colace) 1-2 caps bid
(100/30 mg)
– Psyllium (Metamucil) 1 tsp in liquid bid/tid
Bulk Agent
Prophylactic vs Treatment
Constipation (cont)
Lactulose 15-30 ml (10-20 grams)
-osmotic agent
Magnesium Citrate (300 cc bottle)
- Osmotic
- Bean Alert
Enemas
-Fleet’s Enema (caution CHF/Renal failure)
-Tap water/Soap Suds if necessary
-Don’t give in patient with rectal anastamosis
Constipation (last one)
Glove up: patient may need manual
disimpaction
Avoid Mg/PO4 products in renal failure
Avoid PR meds or enemas in patients with
rectal anastamoses (ex. s/p LAR)
Evaluate medication list for culprits
Prevention = Sleep
NOW – February 2007
Diarrhea (acute)
Associated with fever?
– C Diff, hemorrhagic colitis, chemo/XRT
Diarrhea vs. loose stools
Leakage around impaction
Send C. Diff Ag if recent Abx
Stool O&P, fecal leukocytes and Cx if
clinically indicated
Diarrhea (treatment)
Avoid anti-diarrheals acutely …
– toxic megacolon
– Use only if diarrhea is non infectious
Watch for dehydration
Lomotil (Diphenoxylate hydrochloride)
– 5mg po qid --respiratory side effects with OD
Imodium (Loperamide hydrochloride)
– 2-4mg after loose stools (max 8mg/day)
Bleeding
Surgical vs Medical
Check pcv, plts, and coags –correct
coagulopathy; physical exam/hemocult
Hold pressure if at a certain site
Get help and gather supplies
– NGH case & TICU Case
Get good light
Expose the area … find bleeder, & Press!!!
Hypotension
Assess quickly and recheck manual pressure
Does patient look ill?
– Use your senses!!!
ABC’s first—call for help if necessary
– Trauma case
Reverse Trendelenburg position
Need good IV access--at least 16g IV’s x 2!
» Triple lumen catheter = 3 22g IV’s
» Introducer
Hypotension (cont)
Look for causes
Preload, Contractility, Afterload
– Hypovolemia, Cardiogenic causes, Sepsis,
Anaphylaxis
Give fluid unless cardiac failure
Check pcv, ABG, bmp
Consider transfer to ICU
Best Advice I Can Give You
Eat When You Can
Sleep When You Can
GO When You Can!
Call Loved Ones When On Call
and …
Don’t F … Mess With the Pancrease!!!
Hematemesis
ABC’s first
– MICU case
Good IV access
Abnormal vital signs?
– Hypotensive, tachycardic, tachypnic
– Patients can bleed to death
Coffee ground vs. bright red blood
History of esophageal varices or ulcers
Send CBC/plt, PT/PTT, T&C 2-4 units
– Correct any coagulopathy (No clot … no stop!)
Hematemesis (cont)
Consult GI for therapeutic endoscopy
?NGT
If known varices and unstable may need
Minnesota tube (Sengstaken-Blakemore)
Pharmacologic therapy
–
–
H2 Blocker
PPI (IV form or continuous infusion)
Sengstaken-Blakemore
Hematochezia
ABC’s first
Good IV access … at least 16g IV’s x 2!!!
Abnormal vital signs?
– Hypotensive, tachycardic, tachypnic
– Patients can bleed to death
» VA patient, Saint T patient
BRB, Melena
Send CBC/plt, PT/PTT, T&C 2-4 units
– Correct any coagulopathy (No clot … no stop!)
Hematochezia
Most common cause melena – UGI source
NGT aspirate, Posterior nose bleed
Lower GI source
– Diverticulosis, cancer, hemorrhoids
If actively bleeding … tagged RBC scan /
Angiography may be able to localize
Bowel prep / colonoscopy /upper endoscopy
Transfuse > 6 units – means OR TIME!!!
– PLEASE … get surgeons involved before then
Post-op Pain
IV pain meds if unable to take PO
PO usually lasts longer
Give patient control with PCA
Frequent IV Meds (Frequency variable)
–
–
–
–
Morphine 2-10mg IV/IM
Demerol 25-100mg IV/IM
Dilaudid 0.5-2mg IV/IM
Fentanyl 50-100 mcg IV
Post-op Pain
PO Narcotics
» Lortab, Percocet, Tylenol #3, Darvocet, Oxycontin
» Most contain Tylenol, watch for OD
Toradol 30 mg iv q6h (NSAID)
» Bean alert!!!
» Slight increase risk of bleeding
» GI –ulcer complications
No
One Parting Shot!!!
EXCUSES …
just do it!
They taught
you …
Take the TIME…
Make the EFFORT…
Remember …
of the Five
edicts …
FAMILY is
the KEY!!!
Thank You