Supplemental oxygen is commonly used in modern medicine and is fundamental to the treatment of hypoxemia. This print supplement and the related video focus on the administration of supplemental oxygen in adult patients in an acute care setting
Author: EMKF
The Emergency Medicine Kenya (EMK) Foundation is a not-for-profit organization registered in Kenya in 2015 that aims to ensure timely, accessible and quality lifesaving emergency care in Kenya.
Hypertensive Emergencies
A Hypertensive emergency is any elevation in blood pressure in the presence of end-organ dysfunction. Aggressively treating severe asymptomatic hypertension (very high blood pressure without clear end organ damage) is not indicated, not supported by the literature and DANGEROUS. First, do no harm.
Surviving Sepsis Guidelines 2021: Recommendations and Best Practice Statements
- The recommendation for an initial fluid bolus of 30 mL/kg was downgraded from a strong recommendation to a weak recommendation, based on the low quality of evidence. However, resuscitation should start immediately.
- Balanced crystalloid solution (e.g., lactated Ringer’s solution) should be used (rather than normal saline) for resuscitation.
- Administration of vasopressors should be initiated via peripheral access, as opposed to waiting for placement of central venous access.
- Patients with ongoing vasopressor requirements should receive intravenous corticosteroids (this recommendation was strengthened); however, administration of intravenous vitamin C is explicitly not recommended.
