There is no doubt that the practice of emergency medicine is characterized by intensity, targeted action, the ability to make immediate decisions, and effective management of difficult situations, which concern not only the patients and their environment but also the staff involved in the effort to stabilize the patients.

This medical and nursing staff working in the Emergency Department of a hospital is inevitably called upon to make these critical life decisions for each patient under conditions of extreme pressure. To carry out their duties in such a demanding clinical setting, both doctors and nurses must be able to quickly recognize life-threatening situations in order to address them effectively, as time is a formidable enemy in their efforts.

To this end, they need to rapidly recall a large number of knowledge and information, discern situations and pathological entities, and make appropriate choices that ensure the patient's survival. A valuable aid for the proper exercise of clinical practice in this environment is the handbook by Sefrin and Schua, which has rightfully received favorable reviews from the global medical community and has been translated into numerous languages, as it is a practical and easily understandable manual that thousands of doctors refer to daily for the management of emergencies worldwide.

By providing this handbook to Greek doctors, nurses, and paramedics, we express the belief that they will find a valuable ally in their daily fight for the rescue and restoration of patients.

Contents

Foreword v
Foreword to the 3rd Greek edition vii
Addresses viii
Contributors ix
Acronyms xi
Image Sources xiii
1 Taking Emergency Measures 1
1.1 Examination of Emergency Cases 2
1.2 Resuscitation in Cardiac Arrest 13
1.3 Placement 31
1.4 Oxygenation 32
1.5 Anesthesia During Rescue 40
2 Specialized Areas 51
2.1 Ophthalmological Emergencies 52
2.2 Surgical Emergencies 57
2.3 Gynecological Emergencies 83
2.4 Otorhinolaryngological Emergencies 99
2.5 Internal Medicine Emergencies 106
2.6 Poisonings 160
2.7 Neurological Emergencies 212
2.8 Pediatric Emergencies 227
2.9 Psychiatric Emergencies 241
2.10 Thermal Emergencies 247
2.11 Urological Emergencies 262
2.12 Other Emergency Situations 271
3 Emergency Medicine Drugs 291
3.1 Heart/Circulation 292
3.2 Breathing 302
3.3 Analgesics 304
3.4 Anesthetics 308
3.5 Psychotropic Drugs 310
3.9 Antidotes for Emergency Situations 313
3.7 Other Emergency Drugs 317
4 Legal Issues 321
4.1 Autopsy in the Emergency Service 322
4.2 Judicial Assistance 325
4.3 Obligation to Register in the National Registry of Patients due to the Coronavirus Covid-19 329
Index 333
Appendix Hazardous Material Signage 341