Intussusception

You are a junior doctor in the Emergency Department and have been called to resus for a paediatric code blue.

Ambulance staff handover:

Situation: A 6-month-old has presented to the Emergency Department exhibiting symptoms of vomiting, drowsiness, and abdominal pain.
Background: The infant has had a 24-hour history of abdominal pain. The parents have reported a ‘jelly-like stool.’
Assessment: The child’s consciousness level varies, showing responsiveness to voice and pain (AVPU = V/P).
Recommendation: Full A-E assessment

Task:

• Your task is to conduct an acute assessment of this child using the A-E method
• Please note that you are not expected to take a history
• Be prepared to answer the examiner’s questions at the end

A 6 month old baby is present in the station.

He is called Jerry Salters.

He has had a 24-hour history of abdominal pain and a ‘jelly-like stool.’ He has also had vomiting and drowsiness.

Additional information for examiner:

This child is experiencing decompensated circulatory failure secondary to intussusception. His airway is compromised due to a decreasing level of consciousness. This is an acutely unwell child, who requires IV fluid replacement to restore circulating volume.

Submit your answers to get your score.