Medcast news and blog
Beyond the trigger: recognising and responding to deteriorating patients
Track-and-trigger scores have reshaped how we recognise deterioration — but the score only tells us when to look, not what we're seeing. Physiological reserve, masked deterioration, and cognitive bias, all remind us that clinical judgement remains our sharpest tool for reading the patient behind the number.
READ ON
Mervyn, is day 2 following surgical repair for a fractured neck of femur. He has mild dementia, lives at home with family support and is normally chatty, interactive and knows his family when they visit.
The Huddle is your space to pause, reflect and grow as a nurse. Whether you’re on your commute, in the tea room, or walking the dog, each episode is designed to bring you practical insights, clinical reasoning tips, and stories from the frontline of nursing.
Marjory is a 68 year old in-patient who is 2 days post hip replacement. She is on rivaroxaban (xarelto) for VTE prophylaxis. You find her sitting on the floor of the bathroom, alert but in pain.
In this urgent scenario, Carl's respiratory distress prompts the question of rapid sequence induction. The case includes impending airway compromise, the risks of an unprotected airway, and key elements for successful intubation. A challenging airway situation unfolds.
Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection. Did you know that more than 18 000 Australians suffer from sepsis every year with more than 5000 deaths a year; this is twice the number of deaths due to traffic accidents.
Once anaphylaxis has been identified, immediate treatment is required to stop the allergic cascade from producing histamines, prostaglandins and cytokines, and manage the effects of these agents. Management will include immediate treatment, refractory management and post crisis management.
Gail is a 63 year old post abdominoplasty who is complaining of tingling lips, abdominal cramping and watery eyes...
Sam was found unresponsive at a scene of a single motorcycle accident. No obvious signs of blood loss or fractures...
Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) has become an increasingly popular choice for anaesthesia, as alternatives to volatile agents. Surgical technique advancements and increasing utilisation of day hospital centres have created an environment where minimal downtime after general anaesthesia is highly desirable.