Aortic Pathologies

Diseases affecting the Aorta have been known for Centuries and were, historically, due to trauma or infectious disease. The Scientific advances of the 17th and 18th Centuries saw huge leaps in our understanding of anatomy, biology, medicine and germ theory and, as a result, the near disappearance of syphillitic aneurysms and an increasing understanding of how to successfully manage these conditions. But with the modern world comes modern problems - as our diets and lifestyles have changed, we have seen the emergence and rise of atherosclerotic degenerative aneurysms, inflammatory arterial disease and aortic dissection. These conditions, often misunderstood and misdiagnosed, can present a challenge to clinicians in the pre-hospital arena. So, this month, we're looking at some Aortic disease pathologies and everything you aorta know about them.

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Overdose: Cocaine

Cocaine might be a drug you associate with the 1980s, however, a 2018 audit found that it was still the 2nd most used recreational drug within the UK. Deaths associated with cocaine doubled between 2015 and 2018. 2019 marks the highest deaths on record linked to cocaine use after 8 years of successive increase.

This month we’re looking at the pathophysiology of cocaine, the symptoms involved with toxicity and what we need to do to manage these patients.

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Lower Back Pain

Affecting an estimated 80% of the population at some time in their lives, Lower back pain is a common presentation to ambulance crews. Often this will be muscular in origin, however there are many serious conditions that is im portant ambulance staff are able to recognise and diagnose. This month we’re looking at the assessment and managment of these varied differential diagnoses from Cauda Equina Syndrome to Discitis.

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Adult Head Injury

Every year in England and wales 1.4 million people attend A+E with a head injury.
Ultimately, 90% of people end up being diagnosed with a minor head injury and are discharged.

This week we’re tackling the assessment of Adult head injuries, we’ll go through some red flags to be aware of as well as how to appropriately safety net our patients.

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Hypothermic Cardiac Arrest Pt 2

In this second of a 2 part series we discuss; the managment of the peri-arrest patient, management of a hypothermic cardiac arrest, the modifications to standard ALS therapy, how we can best warm patients pre-hospitaly, what our priorities are in managing these patients, in hospital treatments, and finally we’re going to discuss guidance around confirming deathing in hypothermia.

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Joshua Barker