How to tell the difference between Extravasation and Infiltration?
Extravasation and Infiltration are complications that occur when a drug or fluid is administered through a venous access and it is leaking out of the…
What is the difference between a group and save and a crossmatch?
Group and Save and Crossmatch are two different tests necessary to request prior to a blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are common in clinical practice, and…
Airborne vs Droplet Transmission
Germs are everywhere Some of them live in our body helping us to stay healthy. Others invade our body and multiply, provoking a body reaction.…
What is the Glasgow coma scale?
Versão portuguesa clique aqui The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a scale that allows health professionals to assess conscious level impairment in response to defined…
Chain of Infection: You only need to remove 1 link to prevent infection
🇬🇧 english version Did you know that for the infection to occur, all 6 components need to be present. So if you can remove 1 of…
Do you know what a purple butterfly on the cot/incubator means?
Have you ever notice a purple butterfly logo on a baby's cot or incubator at neonatal unit? That has an explanation...and unfortunately is a sad…
Intraoperative Hypothermia: causes, effects and treatment
Intraoperative hypothermia is a common side effect of anaesthesia when patients undergo surgery. Hypothermia is defined when patient core temperature is less than 36ºC .…
Infection control: types of infection precautions
Depending on the patient's infection status, there are different types of precautions to be followed: Standard precautions The basic precautions to be taken for any…
Jehovah's Witness: What equipment should be available during surgery as an alternative to blood transfusion?
If a Jehovah's Witness patient is scheduled for surgery, a "Cell Saver" (Intra-operative Cell Salvage) might be required, as an alternative to the potential need for…
When should the antibiotics be given? Before or after tourniquet is inflated?
Administer antibiotics BEFORE tourniquet is inflated Antibiotics should be given to the patient at the same time of giving anaesthetic or on earlier stage if…