What is the relief pressure dial on the ventilator?
The relief pressure dial on the ventilator ensures that the pressure of ventilation is not so high that it causes problems but allows it to be high enough to help ensure that the patient actually is ventilated. Read more...
What is positive pressure breathing?
Positive pressure refers to the way artificial ventilation ‘inflate[s] the lungs’ (Hess & Kacmarek, 2014). ‘Normal breathing depends on drawing in air to the lungs by creating a partial vacuum […]
Considering the Differential Diagnoses of Chest Pain? Consider This.
We tend to consider acid reflux as one of the differential diagnoses of chest pain. We, or the patient's GP might advise them to alter their acidic diet. We might even suggest they take their own gaviscon if it's available. But the patient might be suffering from too low acid, not too high. And gaviscon and omemprazole might worsen their symptoms. This is a guest post written by Paul Burgess of Athletic Nutrition (athleticnutrition.tv).
What is Negative Pressure Breathing?
Negative pressure breathing is how we breathe normally, without the aid of bag-valve-masks or mechanical ventilators. This article describes the process and begins a series on breathing and ventilator mechanics.
Paediatric History Taking Tip
A reminder to emphasise the importance of history taking
UK Teenage Pregnancy Rates
A useful 'nice to know' fast fact. Something to bear in mind during reflection on, or even during the history taking of teenage patients?
Nice to Know Stats about Britain’s Children
An interesting & somewhat heartbreaking statistic concerning children in the UK.
Remember the Red Book
The Red Book is a useful document to take to hospital with a child and their parent(s) (Newell & Darling, 2014: 9).
15 Percent of 7 Year Olds ‘Have Eczema, Asthma or Hay Fever’
Another set of Fast Facts, this time from Newell & Darling (2014) about paediatrics at 7 years old. Useful 'nice to knows' during history taking?