Simple questions for review

[onecrazykid5]

Hey guys, I took a break from EMS, but I am getting back into it and have a few questions that I need to review.

1) When is capillary refill used? I know how to do it, but not quite sure the use of it.

2) When would you check a patients pupils? Is this done only when doing a rapid trauma assessment?


Thank you!

 

[DesertMedic66]

1.) when there is a question about how well the patient is perfusing.

2.) depends on the patient and the C/C. For cardiac and SOB it's not on the top of my list to check. For ALOC and head trauma it is higher up on my list to assess. Just had a patient yesterday with head trauma who had unequal pupils.

 

[OnceAnEMT]

1) I'd say capillary refill is a quick n' dirty circulation check. Its either fast or slow, no middle ground, so its a quick answer. Good times to use it would be before and after splinting, or when trauma or neuro is related.

2) It is safe to consider it a vital sign, as it can affirm some serious suspicions, and doesn't take long to assess. Should be truly considered vital when the head is involved in any way, be it trauma or slow onset headache, or if the c/c or s/s are nerve related. As well, if substance abuse of any sort is a possibility.

 

[onecrazykid5]

Thanks guys, that helps a ton!

 

[vcuemt]

Hey guys, I took a break from EMS, but I am getting back into it and have a few questions that I need to review.

1) When is capillary refill used? I know how to do it, but not quite sure the use of it.

2) When would you check a patients pupils? Is this done only when doing a rapid trauma assessment?


Thank you!

Cap refill is important when assessing for shock in kids since BP is an unreliable measure - kids' BP will stay WNL right up until they crash. The way I learned it was 2 seconds is normal, 3 is compensated shock, 4 is uncompensated and 5 is irreversible.