Transporting AAA pt?

[Voodoo1]

Just for my own reference, but what is the best position to transport a AAA pt?

 

[LondonMedic]

In what context?

To their clinic appointment?
To the ER?
To the morgue?

 

[Voodoo1]

Sorry, should have been more specific. To the ER.

 

[LondonMedic]

Sorry, should have been more specific. To the ER.

With a presumed diagnosis of ruptured AAA?

If they're conscious I'd be tempted to say leave them in whatever position they find comfortable.

If they're not, then whatever position best allows you to control their airway.

Arguably Fowler's position but I don't think that there's going to be much in the way of evidence.

 

[Voodoo1]

With a presumed diagnosis of ruptured AAA?

If they're conscious I'd be tempted to say leave them in whatever position they find comfortable.

If they're not, then whatever position best allows you to control their airway.

Arguably Fowler's position but I don't think that there's going to be much in the way of evidence.

That's what I had thought. I had it as a scenario and when I said I was going to place the pt in a semi fowler's, the examiner looked at me like I had two heads. Thank you.

 

[Katy]

With a presumed diagnosis of ruptured AAA?

If they're conscious I'd be tempted to say leave them in whatever position they find comfortable.

If they're not, then whatever position best allows you to control their airway.

This, there isn't anything you can do for AAA pre-hospital besides get them to the hospital as quickly as possible.

 

[Voodoo1]

This, there isn't anything you can do for AAA pre-hospital besides get them to the hospital as quickly as possible.

Yeah, I know. It was just the look on the examiners face, it kinda threw me off. I was wondering if I had done something wrong or if there was a better position to transport the pt.

 

[Katy]

Yeah, I know. It was just the look on the examiners face, it kinda threw me off. I was wondering if I had done something wrong or if there was a better position to transport the pt.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, but I wouldn't put the patient in any certain position that wasn't comfortable for them. Maybe fowlers will be comfortable, maybe not.

 

[ArcticKat]

If signs of shock are present, trendelenberg.

If no signs of shock, position of comfort, likely semi fowlers with the knees elevated for comfort.

 

[LondonMedic]

If signs of shock are present, trendelenberg.

Do people still use Trendelenberg?

 

[Katy]

Do people still use Trendelenberg?

I believe it is standard first aid for shock. I'm not sure about anything past that.

 

[LondonMedic]

I believe it is standard first aid for shock. I'm not sure about anything past that.

I believed it was used until the evidence about respiratory, cerebral and occular risks became more widely received.

 

[Katy]

I believed it was used until the evidence about respiratory, cerebral and occular risks became more widely received.

Yeah, I remember reading something about that on the interenet. I still think it is taught at the Red Cross in my area though, I'll have to check that out.

 

[Yarbo]

What was the BP during your scenario? Maybe that had something to do with it?

 

[Katy]

What was the BP during your scenario? Maybe that had something to do with it?

If the patient's blood pressure was elevated in a position that was comfortable, would you change there position just to lower the blood pressure and cause more pain which could also make the blood pressure rise?

 

[Voodoo1]

If signs of shock are present, trendelenberg.

If no signs of shock, position of comfort, likely semi fowlers with the knees elevated for comfort.

I thought that Trendelenberg is contraindicated for suspected AAA. If I'm wrong about that could you explain why?

 

[Katy]

I thought that Trendelenberg is contraindicated for suspected AAA. If I'm wrong about that could you explain why?

Your probably right, I was going off speculation.

 

[Anjel]

I use trendelenburg.

Especially for hypotension. It definitely works. And when I did use it. It drastically improved the BP.

 

[Anjel]

Oh. ANd I would most likely transport in position of comfort if conscious. I don't want to me moving them around and them being uncomfortable.

 

[Voodoo1]

I use trendelenburg.

Especially for hypotension. It definitely works. And when I did use it. It drastically improved the BP.

For a AAA pt with no pulse to the lower extremities? Wouldn't that just compound the aneurysm?