Paediatrics: Rapid cardiopulmonary assessment

Rapid cardiopulmonary assessment

The rapid cardiopulmonary assessment should take less than 1min.

Airway

·  Is it patent?

Breathing

·  What are the effort and work of breathing? Is there recession, nasal flaring, grunting, use of accessory muscles, stridor, or wheeze?

·  What is the air entry like in the chest?

·  What is the respiratory rate: is it fast or slow?

·  What is the skin colour?

Circulation

·  What is the heart rate?

·  What is the systemic perfusion? Check pulse volume, capillary refill, skin temperature, level of consciousness, and urine output.

·  What is the BP?

Disability

·  What is the level of consciousness?

·  What are the pupils like: size and reaction?