Emergencies in General Practice 4th Edition

Description:

The fully revised fourth edition of this unique book that provides general practitioners with an easy-to-read, easy-to-use guide to the management of the vast majority of emergencies. The first contact a GP has with an emergency case is almost always a telephone call, and the advice given here by the doctor is of paramount importance in the subsequent management of the case. A unique feature of the book is that each topic begins with advice on how to handle the initial telephone call. Each presenting problem is then approached logically with concise notes on assessment, advice and management necessary when the patient is seen. The emphasis is on practical primary care, with discussion of differential diagnosis taken as far as is needed to decide the best immediate course of action. Tables are used liberally to summarise useful information.For each emergency, the ultimate advice and strategy is emphasised within heavy horizontal lines. Emergencies in General Practice is an indispensable book for the practising GP, whether in the practice, on call, or working for the co-op or deputising service. It is also a valuable teaching text for GP registrars.

Preface

This book has been written to provide general practitioners with an easy to read, easy to consult guide, to aid in the management of the large majority of practice emergencies.

Each presenting problem is approached logically with telephone assessment and advice followed by the assessment and management necessary when the patient is seen.

Our guiding principles for emergency care, which this book naturally reflects, are:

(1) When in any doubt—see the patient.

(2) Use the opportunity to educate by: explaining in simple language; not prescribing unless really necessary giving advice about managing everyday problems and about when it is important to call the doctor.

To use this book for ready reference by the telephone, in the car, or at the bedside:

(i) If the patient is a child, look at the contents list at the beginning of Chapter 4 and then turn to the relevant pages.

(ii) If the patient is an adult, first decide the system involved then look at the contents list at the beginning of the appropriate chapter before turning to the relevant pages.

Acknowledgements

We should like to record our grateful thanks to Mrs Nicola L. Moulds BSc for so expertly typing our manuscript. We should also like to thank the many doctors who have taken the time and the trouble to comment on the earlier editions of this book. In particular we should like to thank Dr Ben Essex and Dr Keith Hopcroft for their most helpful criticism.

Table of contents :

Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Preface
1. Emergencies in Practice
2. Answering the Telephone
3. The Doctor’s Bag
4. Paediatric Emergencies
5. Cardiovascular Emergencies
6. Dermatological Emergencies
7. Endocrine Emergencies
8. ENT Emergencies
9. Eye Emergencies
10. Forensic Emergencies
11. Gastrointestinal Emergencies
12. Musculoskeletal Emergencies
13. Neurological Emergencies
14. Obstetric and Gynaecological Emergencies
15. Psychosocial Emergencies
16. Respiratory Emergencies
17. Urogenital Emergencies
Index
Appendix