CBD - The Assessment

Templates

• Start with differential diagnoses

• History

• Examination

• Initial investigations


*You may have to adapt your approach depending on the question or scenario*For every point in your history/exam/investigations- WHAT + WHYxt here...

Different approaches

• Critically unwell patient "outline your assessment and initial management of this patient"


• Vague presentation with a broad differential. List differentials and cardinal features of each


• "What is your differential diagnoses and outline your assessment of this patient"

  3

Underlying principles

what information do you want

why is it important

how will it change your management 

Outline your initial assessment of this patient

You are the consultant in charge in a regional centre. You have received the following pre- notification of a 4 year old girl with respiratory distress.
She was at a birthday party when she started coughing and became suddenly short of breath. She is unable to speak in sentences and has significant work of breathing.


Her vitals are as follows: • HR 140
• BP 85/50
• Sats 85% on 15L o2 • RR 50

• GCS 14

5

Differential Diagnosis

The differentials are broad and must include the following: 

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma
• Foreign body aspiration

• Pneumothorax

• Infective causes- croup, epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis (less likely)

Pass criteria - anaphylaxis, asthma, foreign body