Summary
Suitable for: SHOs and registrars who work in emergency departments and are involved in resuscitation
As our population’s overall life expectancy continues to increase, the complexity of acute hospital presentations requiring early intervention by senior clinical makers is paramount. Patients and their relatives rightfully have high expectations of a clinician’s ability to make pressurised decisions often with limited or sub-optimal information regarding time dependent care. Conventional didactic emergency medicine teaching often involves algorithmic approaches to acute presentations: we give blood to the bleeding patient, we shock a shockable arrhythmia. Through experience however we learn that the same algorithms may not always applicable to different patients, despite similar clinical problems.
This experiential course is delivered in the state-of-the-art simulation suite of RCSI. It will introduce you to immersive learning via simulation through a variety of different challenging resuscitation scenarios in adult patients. You will have an opportunity to engage as a resuscitation team member and/or a team leader. The scenarios are deliberately designed to pose clinical dilemmas for a team to work through. You will learn to use a systematic approach to manage and to communicate regarding an array of critically unwell patients. Structured debriefing and interactive discussion follow each scenario.
Note: Candidates should have previously completed an Advanced Trauma Life Support Course (ATLS) and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support course or equivalent(s).
Topics covered include:
- Acute airway compromise and respiratory failure
- Acute coronary syndrome and cardiac arrest
- The unstable trauma patient
- Acute abdomen and shock
Learning outcomes
- Participate and engage as a resuscitation team leader and team member
- Develop and practice communication strategies with a team under high pressure
- Apply the basic principles of cardiac arrest management
- Apply the basic principles of primary survey assessment and management
- Develop a strategy for managing a difficult colleague
- Reflect on the complex decision process in setting ceilings of care.