Resuscitation handbook - Peter J. F Baskett

This manual is designed to offer simple instruction in basic and advanced cardiac and trauma life support. Revised and updated due to the changes in drug therapy, the development of new resuscitation equipment and the acceptance of new resuscitation methods, this second edition is aimed principally at medical students and doctors, but should also be useful to nurses, ambulance personnel, operating department assistants and military medical personnel.;The introduction outlines the causes of cardiorespiratory arrests, patients who should not be resuscitated, the hazards associated with infecting the patient during resuscitation and definitions of death. These topics are covered thoroughly, intending to familiarize the reader with necessary preliminary assessments when facing a patient potentially needing resuscitating.;The section on cardiac life support is divided into three sections: cardiac resuscitation; restoration of the spontaneous heartbeat; and resuscitation algorithms. Clearance and maintenance of airways, ventilation, support of circulation, defibrillation, cardiac pacing and drug therapy are described in detail.;The chapter on trauma life support describes principles, initial assessment and immediate management, the primary survey, resuscitation of vital functions and the secondary survey. A new chapter on paediatric resuscitation is included, although many paediatric resuscitation techniques are much the same for adults. Some subtle and important differences are highlighted, specifically dosages and equipment sizes.