13-hour shifts. Life-or-death decisions at 4am.
One junior doctor, a corridor full of patients.
First impressions stick — and red flags get buried in the notes.
Tearing abdo→back pain, pulsatile fullness, presyncope, 77M smoker, FHx aneurysm — and a β-blocker may be masking tachycardia.
NICE NG156 · RCEM rAAA ToolkitBefore CT KUB. Do not delay definitive care if unstable.
RCEM rAAA ToolkitDo not discharge. Document the discussion.
NICE NG156Lennox acts at the point of decision, while there is still time to change the outcome.