ABCs
Formal Definition
Airway, Breathing, Circulation - the systematic approach to assessing and stabilizing any critically ill patient.
How It's Used on the Ward
"Start with the ABCs" - the first thing you do when a patient is crashing.
Example
""Patient down in the hallway. ABC assessment: airway patent, breathing spontaneously at 22, pulse present and strong. Let's get them on a monitor.""
Clinical Context
The ABCs are burned into every doctor's brain. In any emergency, you assess airway first, breathing second, circulation third. Always.
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