Author: James Rowley / Editor: Fiona Mendes / Codes: / Published: 21/12/2022
You are working in adult resus as the lead doctor and the triage nurse calls you to urgently review a patient that they are assessing.
A 45-year-old female has presented with gross upper and lower lip swelling. The triage nurse is concerned about the potential of a compromised airway.
Upon your assessment, the patient has gross lip swelling, but seems otherwise well. She is a refugee from the Ukraine and speaks limited English. Her lip swelling started a few hours ago.
There was no trauma, and the patient has not been exposed to any known allergens. The patient has a document saved on her phone which is written in characters you do not recognise except for one word: Berinet.
The patients initial A-E assessment is as follows:
A Patent, no sign of airway issues. Talking.
B Respiratory rate 12 breaths/minute, oxygen saturations 98% in room air, no audible wheeze or respiratory distress.
C Heart rate 85 beats per minute, Blood Pressure 145/67 mmHg
D Alert, able to follow simple commands. GCS 15/15.
E Gross lip swelling. No other visible swelling, rashes or bruises.
The patient keeps pointing to her phone and requests a translator.
