|
Briefing Paper for
Emergency treatment of anaphylactic reactions
2008 Guideline from the Resuscitation Council (UK)
Many of you will have already heard that the guideline for the emergency treatment for anaphylactic reactions has been updated by the Resuscitation Council (UK) and somewhat altered in places, although the basic management remains the same and the document is based upon the previous one. The guideline can be found at
http://www.resus.org.uk/pages/reaction.pdf
An algorithm is available for reference.
The main changes are as below:
* The recognition of an anaphylactic reaction has been clarified and simplified. It is emphasised that a rash is not a prerequisite for the diagnosis
• The use of an Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure (ABCDE)
approach to recognise and treat an anaphylactic reaction has been introduced.
• The early use of intramuscular adrenaline by most rescuers to treat an
anaphylactic reaction is emphasized.
• The use of intravenous adrenaline to treat an anaphylactic reaction is clarified.
It must only be used by those skilled and experienced in its use in certain
specialist settings such as ITU or the operating theatre
• The age ranges and doses for adrenaline, hydrocortisone and chlorphenamine
have been simplified. In particular the children’s adrenaline dose is now in line with commercial preparations.
* There is now only one algorithm instead of several . It may be helpful to remember that, when looking at this, you are only expected to undertake the procedures that you are trained to do , although the algorithm covers all the treatments. For example, if you are not trained to put in intravenous cannulae, although intravenous drugs are mentioned as part of the guideline, it is accepted that you would not attempt to do this.
There is also a “Frequently Answered Questions (FAQ) ” page on the RC(UK) website.
Fiona Jewkes
Representative for JRCALC and the RCGP on the Anaphylaxis Guidelines Group
|
