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Acute Internal Medicine guides
20 plain-English, evidence-linked guides in Acute Internal Medicine, with clinical review status shown on each page.
Abdominal pain assessment (Rapid assessment of acute abdominal pain)A same-day medical assessment to find out what is causing recent or severe tummy pain in someone who is stable, after an emergency cause has been ruled out.Acute headache assessment (Diagnostic assessment of acute (new or sudden) headache)How a doctor works out whether a new or sudden headache is harmless or a sign of something serious, using your story, an examination and sometimes scans or other tests.Acute kidney injury assessment (Diagnostic assessment of acute kidney injury (AKI))How a doctor finds out whether your kidneys have suddenly stopped working as well as they should, why it has happened, and what needs to be done about it.Acute medical consultation (Acute (internal) medicine consultation)An assessment by an acute physician for a new or recently worsening medical problem that needs prompt attention but is not an immediate emergency.Ambulatory emergency care (Ambulatory emergency care (same day emergency care))Hospital-level assessment and treatment for an urgent medical problem given on the same day, without an overnight stay, for people who would otherwise have been admitted.Breathlessness assessment (Rapid assessment of acute breathlessness)A same-day medical assessment to find out what is causing recent or worsening breathlessness in someone who is stable, after an emergency cause has been ruled out.Chest pain assessment (Rapid assessment of acute chest pain)A same-day medical assessment to work out what is causing recent or ongoing chest pain in someone who is stable, after a heart attack has been ruled out as an emergency.Collapse and blackout assessment (Assessment of transient loss of consciousness (syncope))A same-day medical assessment to find out why someone collapsed, fainted or blacked out, used once they have recovered and are stable.Dehydration and intravenous (IV) fluid therapy (Assessment of dehydration and intravenous fluid therapy)When dehydration or fluid loss is treated by giving fluids directly into a vein through a drip, why it is sometimes needed, and why 'wellness' vitamin drips are a different and questionable thing.Diabetic emergency assessment (Acute assessment of a suspected diabetic emergency (DKA / HHS / severe hypoglycaemia))An urgent medical check to find out whether dangerously high or low blood sugar is causing a diabetic emergency, and to start the right treatment quickly.DVT (blood clot in the leg) assessment (Assessment of suspected deep vein thrombosis)A same-day medical assessment to find out whether a swollen, painful leg is caused by a deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot), in someone who is stable.Electrolyte disturbance management (Assessment and management of electrolyte disturbances)How a doctor finds out why the body's salts (such as sodium and potassium) are too high or too low, works out the cause, and corrects them safely.Falls and acute mobility assessment (Multifactorial falls risk and acute mobility assessment)A thorough medical assessment to find out why someone is falling or struggling to move safely, and to plan ways to lower the risk.General medical work-up of complex symptoms (General internal medicine assessment of complex or unexplained symptoms)A broad, joined-up medical assessment by a physician to investigate several symptoms or an unclear problem and work towards a diagnosis and plan.Intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy (Intravenous antibiotic therapy (including outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy, OPAT))When antibiotics are given into a vein rather than as tablets, why this is sometimes needed, and how it can sometimes be continued at home through an OPAT service.Managing a flare-up of a long-term illness (Management of an acute exacerbation of chronic illness)The medical treatment given when a long-term condition such as COPD, heart failure or diabetes suddenly gets worse, to settle the flare-up and prevent it happening again.Pleural aspiration / ascitic drain (Pleural aspiration (thoracocentesis) and abdominal paracentesis (ascitic drain))A procedure using a thin needle or small drain, with local anaesthetic and ultrasound, to remove fluid from around the lung or in the tummy to ease symptoms or find the cause.Rapid access / same-day assessment (Rapid-access same-day acute medical assessment)A quick, organised assessment on the same day for an urgent medical problem, so you can be examined, tested and given a plan without a long wait, and often without staying in hospital.Sepsis and acute infection assessment (Assessment of suspected sepsis and acute infection)A same-day medical assessment to find the source and severity of an acute infection, and to check for sepsis, in someone who is stable enough to be assessed rather than needing emergency care.Suspected pulmonary embolism assessment (Diagnostic assessment for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE))The tests and scoring a doctor uses to find out whether sudden breathlessness, chest pain or a swollen leg is caused by a blood clot on the lung.
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