wyoskibum
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Hi Sasha,
Very true. That's why we always do own own assessment right? Then I would choose the appropriate transport mode according to my impression.
Is this an appropiate reason for Code 3 Transport?
- Thread starter exodus
- Start date
Hi Sasha,
Very true. That's why we always do own own assessment right? Then I would choose the appropriate transport mode according to my impression.
Did he "look sick"?
So, was ONLY the LRQ rigid and distended? (Did it feel like a mass?)
Pain
- OPQRST?
- By "Splitting pain" do you mean a "tearing pain"?
- Could he localize an area for the pain?
- Was he writhing around on the stretcher or holding dead still refusing to move?
Other ?s
- Was the abdomen tympanic or dull to percussion?
- Any relation to food intake?
- Last bowel movement / changes in bowel habits?
- Any discoloration of the peri-umbilical or flank areas?
- Nausea/Vomitting?
- Was the patient febrile or VS WNL mean afebrile?
- History of liver problems? History of pancreatitis? History of EtOH/IVDA?
- Age of patient?
- How much distal edema? Pitting or non-pitting? Are we talking elephant man or grandma?
- How long ago was he shot and was this tenderness near the wound/surgical repair site or is there any indication of infection of the wound?
- Would want to know a PMHx/PSHx, current meds.
- Any history of other traumas, hernias, bowel obstructions, blood per rectum, recent infections, ebstein-barr(aka Mono/Mononucleosis), ingestion of unknown/cell-made substances, inflammatory bowel diseases, bowel surgeries, or foreign travel?
I would worry about a rigid, distended abdomen.
Please don't assume a patient is lying about their pain, that is not for us to decide.
Without a real patient presentation, including vitals, it would be very hard for anyone to really predict whether it was appropriate to go code 3.
I am posting this to encourage you to think on a differential so that next time, you can consider whether YOU think it is appropriate to apply extra diesel.
Did you think to ask a doc what the final dx was?
Find a DDx list for abdominal pain (probably about 700-800 items), look for the ones that are going to tag you in the butt and learn about their presentations. Abdominal pain can be a very difficult thing to figure out.
(Not trying to be harsh, I just want you to know everything on earth if you have to respond to an emergency of mine =D ).
Best of luck, stay safe
-b
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mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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Remember "code 3" does not necessarily mean "drive fast".
In fact a review of state motor vehicle codes may reveal you are still bound by speed limits!
Nice to have the signal changers and freezing cross traffic.
Rid's speed math is often overlooked. Local speed limits are set by safety factors; physics and traffic patterns don't care if you have horses to spare, too fast is too fast.
The trick with inmates is to trust your exam first, then your exam informs the hx. Cut to the chase, treat the pt and safely get them to definitive care.
Oh, yeah; that, and keep your tools out of their reach and don't give them personal info!
In fact a review of state motor vehicle codes may reveal you are still bound by speed limits!
Nice to have the signal changers and freezing cross traffic.
Rid's speed math is often overlooked. Local speed limits are set by safety factors; physics and traffic patterns don't care if you have horses to spare, too fast is too fast.
The trick with inmates is to trust your exam first, then your exam informs the hx. Cut to the chase, treat the pt and safely get them to definitive care.
Oh, yeah; that, and keep your tools out of their reach and don't give them personal info!