Death examination: Difference between revisions

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** Attempt to rouse patient
** Attempt to rouse patient
** Confirm cardiovascular arrest
** Confirm cardiovascular arrest
** *** Monitored: 5 minutes of asystole
*** Monitored: 5 minutes of asystole
**** Non-monitored: absent heart sounds and carotid pulse
*** Non-monitored: absent heart sounds and carotid pulse
** Confirm respiratory arrest
** Confirm respiratory arrest
** *** Look, listen, and feel for respirations
*** Look, listen, and feel for respirations
** Confirm neurological death
** Confirm neurological death
** *** Assess pupil size and absence of corneal reflex
*** Assess pupil size and absence of corneal reflex
* Document time that examination is completed
* Document time that examination is completed
* Arrange the patient unless it is a coroner's case
* Arrange the patient unless it is a coroner's case

Latest revision as of 14:19, 5 August 2020

Definition

  • Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological arrest

Management

  • Identify patient
  • Confirm death
    • Attempt to rouse patient
    • Confirm cardiovascular arrest
      • Monitored: 5 minutes of asystole
      • Non-monitored: absent heart sounds and carotid pulse
    • Confirm respiratory arrest
      • Look, listen, and feel for respirations
    • Confirm neurological death
      • Assess pupil size and absence of corneal reflex
  • Document time that examination is completed
  • Arrange the patient unless it is a coroner's case
  • Inform the family
    • Ask about autopsy and organ donation
  • Document examination in chart, including that next of kin was informed
  • Fill out paperwork
  • Call coroner if
    • Coroner's case if manner of death is not natural
      • Accident or trauma
      • Suicide
      • Homicide
      • Unexplained
    • Autopsy is requested
    • You are unsure
  • Dictate a note CC'ed to the family physician