Showing posts with label Surgery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surgery. Show all posts

Thursday, 7 June 2012

66 year old gentleman presents to A&E following a collapse, his wife is with him. She explains that they were at a wedding when her husband complained of feeling dizzy and then fell to the floor, he has been unresponsive since then. She tells you that her husband is generally fit and well but does mention that he has been a life long smoker. On general examination he is pale and has a fast, thready pulse and his blood pressure is unrecordable on the automatic machine. He is unable to answer any of your questions and is clutching at his abdomen in severe pain.

What is the best course of action? 

A) Analgesia to facilitate a better history.
B) Refer to surgeons for emergency surgery.
C) Perform an ECG.
D) Obtain abdominal US scan. 
E) Perform abdominal examination.