this website
"It's not what you do, it's the difference you make"
This is a website about acute medicine. It describes the care of most acute medical emergencies. Acute medicine concerns the first 24-48h of a patients' admission with an acute medical problem. The website is primarily designed for junior hospital doctors (and medical students) working in an acute medicine unit (AMU) - ie acute medicine, emergency medicine and medical take. But family practioners, nurses and others may find it useful too. It is written by a group of UK consultants, with the help of junior doctors and nurses. All practice and enjoy acute care. It is an on-going project
Quick search using Google: you can search on 'acutemed' then the 'disease' (eg 'acutemed ACS' or 'DKA') that you are interested in
Acute Medicine Courses. 'Interface Geriatrics' is an event being held by the British Geriatrics Society in London on 5 March 2010. This course is aimed at bringing together acute medicine, emergency medicine and geriatric medicine doctors to examine different models of delivering comprehensive geriatric management across primary and secondary care. Prof Derek Bell and Prof Bryan Williams are amongst those participating in the day and a full programme can be accessed via this link:
http://www.bgs.org.uk/Notices/interface_geriatrics.html
February 'Did you know?' Austin Flint (1812-1886) described a presystolic or late diastolic (mitral) heart murmur best heard at the apex of the heart. It is present in some cases of aortic regurgitation and is thought to be due to the vibration of the mitral valve caused by regurgitation of blood from the aorta into the heart before contraction of the ventricles. He was a pioneer of heart research in the U.S., and was one of the most eminent of 19th century physicians. Flint made several important contributions to the knowledge of diseases of the heart and the respiratorial system. He is also said to have coined the term broncho-vesicular breathing. Talking of AR, did you know there are 12 eponymous signs: Eponyms and the Diagnosis of Aortic Regurgitation: What Says the Evidence? Babu AN et al. Ann Intern Med; 138: 736-742, 2003
Austin Flint (1812-1886)• BNF. All drugs recommended in this website, are prescribed according to the UK's prescribing bible, the BNF. So, please check drug recommendations against your local policy. Note, drugs may also need to be adjusted for renal impairment etc. This website is not a substitute for a detailed clinical assessment, involving history, examination and investigation. Your patient may be different from the cases described within. If in doubt, ask
• Why is your patient NOT on a LMW Heparin? This website refers to ENOXAPARIN, which is licensed for use in Unstable angina/NSTEMI, PE/DVT, AF and medical prophylaxis. Your Trust may use another LMWH, with a different license. All need dose reduction in renal failure
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