Breathless after hip surgery

Instructions

You are an intern on the orthopaedic ward. It is 4 am, and the night nurse asks you to see Lakshmi Pillai, 84, who had surgery to fix a fractured right hip two days ago and has become increasingly short of breath over the last two hours.

1. 1

   Perform an A to E assessment and treat as you go

2. 2

   Outline to the examiner:

   • Your findings
   • Your most likely diagnosis and differentials
   • Next steps in management, including relevant investigations

• A nurse will carry out your instructions
• You do not need to take a full history